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Coro: Program turnaround builds on ambition
8/27/2021 9:00:00 AM | Volleyball, Paul Coro
Lopes follow 2 seasons of 35-10 play with WAC title goals for this fall
Only 26 other women's volleyball programs in America can claim the feat that Grand Canyon has pulled off in its two-year turnaround.
GCU is in that select company for teams that have won at least 73% of their games in each of the past two seasons. The Lopes have been the architects of a special volleyball home, but they begin a new season this weekend with designs of building a new wing.
GCU wants trophies and rings. Championships make up the vision of everyone from sixth-year head coach Tim Nollan, graduate student Teagan DeFalco and a game-changing junior class featuring Klaire Mitchell and Hannah Eskes to the batch of 13 freshmen and sophomores who only know the new standard.
"I think the next step for us is to win championships and to be in that championship game every year," said Nollan, whose Lopes have been the WAC regular-season runner-up in the past two seasons. "We are talented enough to get back there again this year and compete for it. We're just super young so we're going to have develop our young talent and get some collegiate match experience."
The Lopes graduated last season's top two scorers, Yeny Murillo and Kaira Moss, but remain equipped with Preseason All-WAC choices (Mitchell and Eskes) and a libero who is 22 digs from setting a GCU Division I-era record after missing last season (DeFalco).
"I'm ready to really ball out this year," DeFalco said. "I'm coming with this attitude that I'm leaving everything out on the court. For me, it's go time.
"We have a lot of young talent and that's unique and powerful. These girls are coming in and are already ready to ball. They're grinders. They have bought into our system and our team culture. To see we're bringing in young blood that is ready to grind it out is really exciting for me."
After two seasons, Mitchell already holds the GCU Division I-era record for assists. Mitchell won WAC Setter of the Year last season and ranked third nationally for assists per set (11.8) but is never content with her game. She improved her serving last season and is determined to become an elite blocker at a lean 5 feet 7.
GCU has gone 33-8 in games that Mitchell played the past two seasons, but she is healthier this season.
"I get to practice with the team, so I think that will help everyone's connection, with my hitters and everyone," Mitchell said. "I'm excited for us to bring our new weapons to the table. I feel like everybody else in the league is going to be the same and we're kind of the unknown. We're still figuring out who we are, but it's going to be really good and every day is getting better."
The Lopes will grow with the help of established strengths in their early touches at back-row defense, setting and middle blocking. GCU is younger at the pins but also longer and more athletic.
Sophomore outside hitter Ashley Lifgren is the top returning scorer after Eskes, who was last season's WAC leader in blocks.
"Ashley really put in the time in the offseason to get her body right and get strong," Nollan said. "I think she's going to have a tremendous season. I would be shocked if that kid wasn't on the top of our stat sheet every night. She's just performing really well in the practice gym."
A group of newcomers, featuring freshman outside hitters Sydney Reed and McKenzie Wise, will impact the Lopes as they start the season with three weekend matches at the Idaho Volleyball Classic.
With matches open to fans again at GCU Arena, the Lopes' home debut comes Sept. 3-5 in the GCU Invitational against Western Carolina, Rider and Villanova.
"While I really enjoyed the cutouts in the arena, it is so much better to be in the arena with a couple thousand screaming students and fans," Nollan said. "We're so excited to be back playing in front of them. My challenge to the Lope Nation and Lope family is that we want to be in the top 20 in attendance this year."
Those fans will find a motivated bunch that is pursuing GCU's first NCAA Division I tournament appearance. That no longer needs to be a staff standard because the players are so goal-oriented and the youth folded immediately into the culture.
"We are so strong-minded and determined," DeFalco said. "That mindset is the strongest thing that beats physicality every day."
Nollan does not shy away from long-term goals beyond conference championships. He envisions the program becoming a perennial top-15 program nationally with deep NCAA tournament runs. A WAC title is a building block to get there.
"It's been an incredible journey and I couldn't be more proud to be part of the GCU family," Nollan said. "I don't use that word lightly. I think GCU is a really special place that really takes care of its own. It's a family and a community, all really passionate about similar things."
GCU is in that select company for teams that have won at least 73% of their games in each of the past two seasons. The Lopes have been the architects of a special volleyball home, but they begin a new season this weekend with designs of building a new wing.
GCU wants trophies and rings. Championships make up the vision of everyone from sixth-year head coach Tim Nollan, graduate student Teagan DeFalco and a game-changing junior class featuring Klaire Mitchell and Hannah Eskes to the batch of 13 freshmen and sophomores who only know the new standard.
"I think the next step for us is to win championships and to be in that championship game every year," said Nollan, whose Lopes have been the WAC regular-season runner-up in the past two seasons. "We are talented enough to get back there again this year and compete for it. We're just super young so we're going to have develop our young talent and get some collegiate match experience."The Lopes graduated last season's top two scorers, Yeny Murillo and Kaira Moss, but remain equipped with Preseason All-WAC choices (Mitchell and Eskes) and a libero who is 22 digs from setting a GCU Division I-era record after missing last season (DeFalco).
"I'm ready to really ball out this year," DeFalco said. "I'm coming with this attitude that I'm leaving everything out on the court. For me, it's go time."We have a lot of young talent and that's unique and powerful. These girls are coming in and are already ready to ball. They're grinders. They have bought into our system and our team culture. To see we're bringing in young blood that is ready to grind it out is really exciting for me."
After two seasons, Mitchell already holds the GCU Division I-era record for assists. Mitchell won WAC Setter of the Year last season and ranked third nationally for assists per set (11.8) but is never content with her game. She improved her serving last season and is determined to become an elite blocker at a lean 5 feet 7.GCU has gone 33-8 in games that Mitchell played the past two seasons, but she is healthier this season.
"I get to practice with the team, so I think that will help everyone's connection, with my hitters and everyone," Mitchell said. "I'm excited for us to bring our new weapons to the table. I feel like everybody else in the league is going to be the same and we're kind of the unknown. We're still figuring out who we are, but it's going to be really good and every day is getting better."
The Lopes will grow with the help of established strengths in their early touches at back-row defense, setting and middle blocking. GCU is younger at the pins but also longer and more athletic.
Sophomore outside hitter Ashley Lifgren is the top returning scorer after Eskes, who was last season's WAC leader in blocks.
"Ashley really put in the time in the offseason to get her body right and get strong," Nollan said. "I think she's going to have a tremendous season. I would be shocked if that kid wasn't on the top of our stat sheet every night. She's just performing really well in the practice gym."
A group of newcomers, featuring freshman outside hitters Sydney Reed and McKenzie Wise, will impact the Lopes as they start the season with three weekend matches at the Idaho Volleyball Classic.
With matches open to fans again at GCU Arena, the Lopes' home debut comes Sept. 3-5 in the GCU Invitational against Western Carolina, Rider and Villanova.
"While I really enjoyed the cutouts in the arena, it is so much better to be in the arena with a couple thousand screaming students and fans," Nollan said. "We're so excited to be back playing in front of them. My challenge to the Lope Nation and Lope family is that we want to be in the top 20 in attendance this year."
Those fans will find a motivated bunch that is pursuing GCU's first NCAA Division I tournament appearance. That no longer needs to be a staff standard because the players are so goal-oriented and the youth folded immediately into the culture.
"We are so strong-minded and determined," DeFalco said. "That mindset is the strongest thing that beats physicality every day."
Nollan does not shy away from long-term goals beyond conference championships. He envisions the program becoming a perennial top-15 program nationally with deep NCAA tournament runs. A WAC title is a building block to get there.
"It's been an incredible journey and I couldn't be more proud to be part of the GCU family," Nollan said. "I don't use that word lightly. I think GCU is a really special place that really takes care of its own. It's a family and a community, all really passionate about similar things."
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