Completed Event: Women's Volleyball versus UT Rio Grande Valley on August 30, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 0
W Volleyball
vs UT Rio Grande Valley
W 3-0
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Saturday, September 4
Phoenix, Ariz.
7 p.m.
Grand Canyon
5-0,0-0WAC
3
vs
0
Rider
0-6,0-0MAAC
1
2
3
F
Rider
19
22
19
0
Grand Canyon
25
25
25
3
Lopes improve to 5-0 with sweep over Rider
9/4/2021 9:16:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
GCU totaled 7 blocks against the Broncs
The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team continued its home streak with a 25-19, 25-21, 25-19 sweep over Rider on Saturday night.
"I was pleased with the all-around team effort tonight," Lopes head coach Tim Nollan said. "We worked really hard on the defensive side of the ball and coordinating our blocks and back-row defense. We need to continue to improve our offense rhythm, which we look to do the next couple weeks of preseason."
The Lopes moved to 5-0 in their second of three GCU Invitational weekend matches with freshman outside hitter McKenzie Wise posting a team-high nine kills while three other Lopes (Hannah Eskes, Sydney Reed and Ashley Lifgren) posted eight kills.
"Sydney Reed and Hannah Eskes both put together a nice offensive match," Nollan said. "We will look to develop others to find the rhythm those two have found this early."
GCU started out on top with an 11-5 start, highlighted by three kills from three Lopes. Freshman setter Megan Liu recorded her first career kill and then followed by finding Eskes to give the Lopes a 19-13 lead. Back-to-back kills from Lifgren and Wise closed out the first set.
The Lopes started the second set with an 8-6 edge on consecutive kills from Reed, Eskes and Lifgren. Junior setter Klaire Mitchell found Wise on the outside to give the Lopes set point, but Rider made the Lopes work for the second set as they closed the gap to 24-22. Junior middle blocker Kailey Trapp came in and secured the second set with a kill off the hands of sophomore setter Ava Mason.
A five-point Lopes scoring run lifted them to a 15-8 lead, highlighted by kills from Lifgren and Eskes and a block from Mitchell. Reed recorded her eighth kill on a set from Mason and freshman outside hitter Katie Cook followed with a service ace. Mason found Eskes in the middle to close out the match.
The Lopes close out the GCU Invitational on Sunday with a 2 p.m. match against Villanova.
"I was pleased with the all-around team effort tonight," Lopes head coach Tim Nollan said. "We worked really hard on the defensive side of the ball and coordinating our blocks and back-row defense. We need to continue to improve our offense rhythm, which we look to do the next couple weeks of preseason."
The Lopes moved to 5-0 in their second of three GCU Invitational weekend matches with freshman outside hitter McKenzie Wise posting a team-high nine kills while three other Lopes (Hannah Eskes, Sydney Reed and Ashley Lifgren) posted eight kills.
"Sydney Reed and Hannah Eskes both put together a nice offensive match," Nollan said. "We will look to develop others to find the rhythm those two have found this early."
GCU started out on top with an 11-5 start, highlighted by three kills from three Lopes. Freshman setter Megan Liu recorded her first career kill and then followed by finding Eskes to give the Lopes a 19-13 lead. Back-to-back kills from Lifgren and Wise closed out the first set.
The Lopes started the second set with an 8-6 edge on consecutive kills from Reed, Eskes and Lifgren. Junior setter Klaire Mitchell found Wise on the outside to give the Lopes set point, but Rider made the Lopes work for the second set as they closed the gap to 24-22. Junior middle blocker Kailey Trapp came in and secured the second set with a kill off the hands of sophomore setter Ava Mason.
A five-point Lopes scoring run lifted them to a 15-8 lead, highlighted by kills from Lifgren and Eskes and a block from Mitchell. Reed recorded her eighth kill on a set from Mason and freshman outside hitter Katie Cook followed with a service ace. Mason found Eskes in the middle to close out the match.
The Lopes close out the GCU Invitational on Sunday with a 2 p.m. match against Villanova.
Team Stats
Rider
GCU
Kills
31
41
Errors
20
15
Attempts
124
132
Hitting %
.089
.197
Points
34
50
Assists
29
39
Aces
2
2
Blocks
1
7
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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