WAC semifinals match GCU with UVU again

Friday, April 2

Orem, Utah

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Utah Valley

4/1/2021 11:22:00 AM | Volleyball

No. 2 Lopes take on No. 3 Wolverines on Friday afternoon

By: Kellie Reynolds

Friday, April 2 \| 1 p.m. \| Lockhart Arena \| Orem, Utah

	UTAH VALLEY WOLVERINES (12-5, 12-4 WAC)	vs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES (11-3, 11-3 WAC)

WATCH: Live \| STATS: View \| GCU GAME NOTES: View

The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team heads to Orem, Utah, for the WAC Tournament as the No. 2 seed. GCU will take on No. 3 seed and host Utah Valley on Friday at 1 p.m. (Phoenix time) in Lockhart Arena. The Lopes and Wolverines competed there just 10 days ago in a split series.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

SIX HONORED WITH ALL-WAC: GCU took major WAC honors with sophomore Klaire Mitchell winning Setter of the Year and Libero of the Year and senior K.J. Adams winning Libero of the Year. Mitchell and senior outside hitter Yeny Murillo landed on the All-WAC first team while Adams joined middle blockers Kaira Moss and Hannah Eskes on All-WAC second team. Outside hitter Ashley Lifgren earned a spot on the All-WAC Freshmen Team.
IN THE RANKINGS: In 14 matches, the Lopes have made a big impact in the national top 25 for three categories and top 50 for two others. Mitchell averages 11.89 assists per set, which puts her at third in the nation and first in the WAC. Eskes is ranked 16th in the nation and first in the WAC with 1.42 blocks per set. GCU's defense averages 19.28 digs per set to rank eighth nationally. Murillo ranks 29th nationally and first in the WAC with 4.33 kills per set. Adams comes in 45th nationally at 5.02 digs per set, the top average in the WAC.
NO. 2 IN THE WAC: The Lopes clinched the second seed in the WAC Tournament and a place in Friday's semifinal when they defeated Utah Valley in three sets in the teams' first meeting. GCU will square off with the Wolverines for the third match in row Friday.

SCOUTING

Utah Valley (12-5) claimed WAC Player of the Year honors with outside hitter Kazna Tanuvasa, who averaged 3.54 kills per set. Tanuvasa had a team-high 290.5 points in 54 sets. Utah Valley libero Seen Jardine was an All-WAC second-team selection for her average of 4.6 digs per set. The final award winner for the Wolverines was freshman Kendra Nock, who was placed on the All-WAC Freshmen Team. The middle blocker led UVU in blocks with 79 total, 77 by assists and two solo. Another key part of the Wolverines offense is setter Jaysa Funk Stratton, who averaged 6.57 assists per set this season.

WHAT'S NEXT

The championship match for the WAC Tournament title will be Saturday at 1 p.m. (Phoenix time). The GCU-UVU winner will play the winner of the other Friday semifinal, featuring top seed New Mexico State, with the champion earning a bid to the NCAA tournament.