Lopes down Mavericks 3-1 on road

Saturday, October 8

Arlington, Texas

10 a.m.

Grand Canyon

9-7,3-2WAC

UT Arlington

11-6,3-2WAC

Grand Canyon

UT Arlington

Photo by: Adrianna Candelaria

10/8/2022 2:48:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

GCU avenges September loss to UT Arlington with Mitchell's 52 assists

By: Adrianna Candelaria

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team prevailed in four sets at UT Arlington on Saturday afternoon with outside hitters Melanie Brecka and Ashley Lifgren and senior setter Klaire Mitchell posting double-doubles.

Brecka, a graduate student, hit .289 with 17 kills and 10 digs for 18.5 points, while Lifgren, a junior, hit .250 with 15 kills and 10 digs for 18 points. Mitchell put up 52 assists, her second highest total of the season, and 18 digs, one shy of her season high. GCU (9-7, 3-2 WAC) tallied its second-best dig total of the season (85) to win the conference match 22-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-22.

The Lopes defense was on top of its game, posting 11 blocks with four apiece by senior middle blocker Hannah Eskes and sophomore middle blocker Alissa Uhlenhop and three from Brecka, while freshman libero Tatum Thomas picked up 18 digs.

"I'm impressed with how our team answered Thursday's loss," Lopes head coach Tim Nollan said. "We came out today and showed a ton of grit."

Although the Lopes trailed 18-9 in the first set, they were able to string together seven unanswered points to bring them back into contention, and even fought their way to a 24-22 deficit before a service error gave the first set to UT Arlington (11-6, 3-2 WAC).

But in fighting fashion, GCU led in the second frame but was tied at 16-16, 19-19 and 20-20 before scoring three consecutive points and evening the match at 1-1 with an Uhlenhop kill closing out a 25-22 set win. The teams tied 12 times with four lead changes throughout the frame.

The third set was a tight race, until three consecutive Eskes kills started a 5-0 run that sent the Lopes to a 10-5 lead. They increased their lead to seven with a service ace from sophomore outside hitter McKenize Wise at 18-11, and ultimately closed out a 25-18 strong when the final three points started with a Wise kill.

However, the Mavericks managed to bounce back for a 10-5 lead in the fourth frame before the Lopes battled back. GCU completely closed the gap at 12-12, and took the lead when Mitchell set three different teammates consecutively to take the lead and move ahead 17-15. UT Arlington never led again with the Lopes closing out the set 25-22 to take the match, avenging a September home loss against the Mavericks.

GCU concludes its first Texas road trip at 1-1 after a Thursday loss to Stephen F. Austin and the win at UT Arlington. The Lopes will return to Texas next week to face Tarleton (10-10, WAC 2-4) and Abilene Christian (4-13, WAC 1-4).