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Grand Canyon University Athletics
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Schedule sets up GCU to build on success
8/4/2021 9:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Lopes host nonconference tournament among 11 home matches
The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team released its fall schedule with Lopes head coach Tim Nollan announcing a home tournament during nonconference action and eight home conference matches.
"I am excited to get the 2021 season underway," Nollan said. "We have the right nonconference schedule to prepare our team for Western Athletic Conference play."
After going 11-4 in a season that was delayed to the spring because of COVID-19, the Lopes return to a fall schedule that will feature four nonconference tournaments before heading into conference play in the expanded WAC.
GCU returns junior Klaire Mitchell, the Lopes' first WAC Setter of the Year who ranked third nationally with 11.78 assists per set last season, and junior middle blocker Hannah Eskes, who led the WAC with 1.38 blocks per set last season and ranked 23rd nationally. After playing beach volleyball in the spring, libero Teagan DeFalco rejoins the program where she ranked second for digs per set (4.57) in 2019.
"We open on the road at the University of Idaho tournament, which will be a great test for our young team to gain some valuable experience," said Nollan, whose teams have gone 35-10 over the past two seasons.
GCU begins the season at Idaho on Aug. 27-28 with matches against Eastern Washington, Nevada and the host. The Lopes return home for the GCU Classic on Labor Day weekend (Sept. 3-5), when they will host Western Carolina and Rider before closing out the event with Villanova.
"The GCU Classic with Western Carolina, Rider and Villanova has three opponents that all have greats shots at winning their conference and advancing to the NCAA tournament," Nollan said. "It will be a great way to kick off our home schedule for our fans."
The Lopes head north to Portland, Oregon, on Sept. 10-12, taking on UTEP, Portland State and Portland.
"The tournament at Portland State has a Big Sky Conference team, a WCC team and Conference USA team, all three of which are well-respected leagues that have great competition," Nollan said. "It also gives us an opportunity to play in the Northwest, which is an area we get a lot of recruiting interest from."
GCU closes out the nonconference schedule in Southern California against UC Irvine and CSU Fullerton.
"Our last preseason tournament is the Big West vs. WAC Challenge, which we will play for the next four years," Nollan said. "We are excited to play UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton and help our conference showcase just how competitive the WAC is."
The Lopes hit the road for their opening week of WAC play, taking on Dixie State on Sept. 23 and then reigning conference champion Utah Valley.
GCU welcomes California Baptist on Sept. 30 for its first home WAC match of the season. The Lopes will also be a host site for a WAC midseason tournament on Oct. 16-21, when they host New Mexico State and new conference opponents Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin.
This year's WAC Tournament will be held Nov. 18-20 at New Mexico State in Las Cruces.
"I am excited to get the 2021 season underway," Nollan said. "We have the right nonconference schedule to prepare our team for Western Athletic Conference play."After going 11-4 in a season that was delayed to the spring because of COVID-19, the Lopes return to a fall schedule that will feature four nonconference tournaments before heading into conference play in the expanded WAC.
GCU returns junior Klaire Mitchell, the Lopes' first WAC Setter of the Year who ranked third nationally with 11.78 assists per set last season, and junior middle blocker Hannah Eskes, who led the WAC with 1.38 blocks per set last season and ranked 23rd nationally. After playing beach volleyball in the spring, libero Teagan DeFalco rejoins the program where she ranked second for digs per set (4.57) in 2019.
"We open on the road at the University of Idaho tournament, which will be a great test for our young team to gain some valuable experience," said Nollan, whose teams have gone 35-10 over the past two seasons.
GCU begins the season at Idaho on Aug. 27-28 with matches against Eastern Washington, Nevada and the host. The Lopes return home for the GCU Classic on Labor Day weekend (Sept. 3-5), when they will host Western Carolina and Rider before closing out the event with Villanova.
"The GCU Classic with Western Carolina, Rider and Villanova has three opponents that all have greats shots at winning their conference and advancing to the NCAA tournament," Nollan said. "It will be a great way to kick off our home schedule for our fans."
The Lopes head north to Portland, Oregon, on Sept. 10-12, taking on UTEP, Portland State and Portland.
"The tournament at Portland State has a Big Sky Conference team, a WCC team and Conference USA team, all three of which are well-respected leagues that have great competition," Nollan said. "It also gives us an opportunity to play in the Northwest, which is an area we get a lot of recruiting interest from."
GCU closes out the nonconference schedule in Southern California against UC Irvine and CSU Fullerton.
"Our last preseason tournament is the Big West vs. WAC Challenge, which we will play for the next four years," Nollan said. "We are excited to play UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton and help our conference showcase just how competitive the WAC is."
The Lopes hit the road for their opening week of WAC play, taking on Dixie State on Sept. 23 and then reigning conference champion Utah Valley.
GCU welcomes California Baptist on Sept. 30 for its first home WAC match of the season. The Lopes will also be a host site for a WAC midseason tournament on Oct. 16-21, when they host New Mexico State and new conference opponents Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin.
This year's WAC Tournament will be held Nov. 18-20 at New Mexico State in Las Cruces.
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