Clutch finish earns 5-set win at Utah Valley

Saturday, September 25

Orem, Utah

12 p.m.

Grand Canyon

9-2,1-1WAC

Utah Valley

5-8,0-2WAC

Grand Canyon

Utah Valley

9/25/2021 3:07:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

GCU wins road match with 13 service aces, including Wise's 5

By: Kellie Reynolds

OREM, Utah – The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team picked up its first WAC win, rallying in five intense sets (22-25, 25-19, 18-25, 25-21, 16-14) at Utah Valley on Saturday.

The Lopes (9-2, 1-1 WAC) totaled 13 service aces with career highs coming from freshman outside hitter McKenzie Wise with five and sophomore outside hitter Giorgia Turri with three. Wise added a match-high 16 kills while GCU junior middle blocker Annabelle Kubinski had season highs with 11 kills, 15 points and two aces against the Wolverines (5-8, 0-2 WAC).

To start the match, the Lopes went on a four-point run that began with a kill from freshman opposite hitter Sydney Reed. Wise had two of her five aces in that stretch of points for GCU. Utah Valley was able to close the gap and tie the score at 16-16 and the score tied again at 22-22 after GCU scored back-to-back points when freshman setter Megan Liu found Kubinski in the middle and then freshman middle blocker Alissa Uhlenhop and sophomore opposite hitter Kailey Trapp combined for a block. The Wolverines took the next three points and the opening set.

The second set went back and forth until GCU sophomore setter Ava Mason found Wise on the pin for a kill to give the Lopes a 9-8 lead. Wise followed with back-to-back aces to extend the lead to 11-8. Later, two consecutive points stretch the Lopes to their largest lead of the match at 22-15. Utah Valley closed the gap to 23-19, but Mason found Turri on the pin for back-to-back kills that evened the match at one set apiece.

Utah Valley responded in the third set with a 7-4 lead until the Lopes made a three-point run, including a kill from Kubinski and sophomore outside hitter Ashley Lifgren. With the Lopes trailing 20-18, the Wolverines went on a five-point run for the set win and a 2-1 match lead.

In a must-win set, GCU again volleyed on the scoreboard with Utah Valley. With the Lopes trailing 9-8, a Kubinski kill started an eight-point run that included two service aces from Turri and two kills from Wise for a 16-9 lead. Kubinski closed out the fourth set with a kill and forced a fifth set.

With the momentum on the Lopes' side, Reed opened the final set with a kill on the right side and Mason followed with a service ace. Utah Valley fought back and for an 11-8 lead, but a Turri kill slowed the Wolverines and started a rally that tied the set at 11-11. With the score tied again at 14-14, Mason found Lifgren on the outside for her 33rd assist and then Wise connected with Turri's 12th kill to finish the GCU victory.

GCU libero Teagan DeFalco, a libero, recorded a match-high 22 digs, tying her second-highest total of the season.

The Lopes are back in action on Thursday when they host California Baptist at 6 p.m. in GCU Arena.