Lopes fall in WAC semifinal match

Friday, April 2

Orem, Utah

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

11-4,11-4WAC

Utah Valley

13-5,13-4WAC

Utah Valley

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Isaac Hale/WAC

4/2/2021 5:17:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

GCU loses in tight 4th set to host Utah Valley

By: Kellie Reynolds

OREM, Utah – The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team took on Utah Valley for the third time in a row this season, but this meeting was for the chance to advance to the WAC Tournament championship match. The Lopes dominated the Wolverines in the opening set, but they fell in the next three sets to end GCU's season on Friday at Utah Valley.

"Today was not our day," Lopes head coach Tim Nollan said. "We competed well, but we were just not able to play clean enough to come away with the win. This spring season has presented many challenges, and I am proud of the way our team has consistently risen to meet them."

GCU (11-4) pulled away in the opening set as the Lopes went on five-point run, featuring kills from three different Lopes for an 11-7 lead. The Wolverines closed the gap and were within one of the Lopes, but a three-point run and a kill by senior middle blocker Kaira Moss put GCU up 21-17. The Lopes closed out the first set 25-19 over Utah Valley (13-5).

The Wolverines took a 7-3 lead in the second set. At set point for Utah Valley, the Lopes put together an impressive eight-point run highlighted by two kills from Moss, who finished 14 kills and nine blocks, and two from senior outside hitter Yeny Murillo but the Wolverines won 25-23.

In the third set, GCU shook off a 2-0 hole with four consecutive points. GCU and Utah Valley went back and forth throughout the third set. From a 21-20 Wolverines lead, the teams alternated points until Utah Valley won 25-23 again and took a 2-1 match lead.

Klaire Mitchell

Utah Valley took an 8-2 lead in the fourth set, but a kill by GCU junior middle blocker Annabelle Kubinski put an end to the Wolverines run. GCU got within three points of UVU as freshman outside hitter Ashley Lifgren and Moss each recorded a kill, making it 12-9.

The Lopes tied the score at 19-19 with a three-point run, which was started by a kill from sophomore middle blocker Hannah Eskes and continued with a block from Moss and sophomore setter Klaire Mitchell. For the match, Mitchell recorded 43 assists, 15 digs and six blocks.

At match point for the Wolverines, Mitchell aced Utah Valley to tie the set at 24-24. Murillo followed with her team-best 15th kill, giving the Lopes a set point, but the Wolverines pushed three straight points to collect the win.

"Unfortunately, we did not get the breaks we needed to today to get the win," Nollan said. "I want to thank our seniors for their contributions to this program and make them this promise: we will continue to build and finish what they helped start as we take this program to new heights."