Record sweep streak continues at Utah Tech

Saturday, November 5

St. George, Utah

12 p.m.

Grand Canyon

14-9,8-4WAC

Utah Tech

10-11,4-8WAC

Grand Canyon

Utah Tech

Photo by: Zach Campbell

11/5/2022 2:17:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

GCU wins 4th consecutive 3-0 match for 1st time in DI era

By: Adrianna Candelaria

ST. GEORGE, Utah — The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team recorded a winning streak of four consecutive sweeps for the first time in its Division I era by prevailing 25-19, 25-17, 25-16 at Utah Tech on Saturday.

GCU senior setter Klaire Mitchell broke the program's Division I-era record for assists in a three-set match with 46, giving her the top five Lopes performances in the category. Mitchell did not commit an error in the match.

"This was a great way to end a road trip," GCU head coach Tim Nollan said. "Klaire Mitchell's 46 assists in three sets is bigtime.

"Any time you can have an attack line of 52 kills and 10 errors on 101 attempts for a .416 clip, you are most likely going to be successful. Our service line was impressive as well with nine aces to only seven errors."

The Lopes (14-9, 8-4 WAC) remained in a fourth-place tie in the WAC with UT Arlington but moved within a game of third-place Stephen F. Austin with two regular-season games remaining at home next week.

GCU came out swinging, hitting .367 in the first set with four service aces in their first 10 points. In a tight-fought battle with the eighth tie at 12-12, the Lopes found some early breathing room with a 6-1 run. They led 20-17 before Mitchell set three different teammates consecutively and for a 23-17 lead and sophomore outside hitter McKenzie Wise's kill closed out a 25-19 win.

"Mac with no hitting errors and second on the team in digs and (freshman outside hittter) Tatum Parrott with 16 kills are pretty special," Nollan said.

After a 4-0 start by Utah Tech in the second set, GCU's offense continued full speed ahead with 19 of the Lopes' 25 points stemming from kills and improved hitting to .385. The Lopes clinched the second frame through a series of runs, with a 5-0 run tying the match at 9-9. The most important run came when trailing 10-9. GCU rattled off seven consecutive points, including four kills by Parrott and a service ace by junior libero Castan Sturm.

The Lopes polished off the sweep emphatically with .500 hitting in the final set, giving them their second-best hitting match of the season. GCU is 12-1 when it hits better than .225 in a match this season.

Two aces by Parrott, who is averaging 15.2 kills in the past six matches, helped the Lopes get out to a 12-9 lead. GCU stretched the lead to 21-12 during a 5-0 run with three kills by senior middle blocker Hannah Eskes, who finished with 11 kills and .600 hitting. Eskes has hit at least .400 in five of the past seven matches.

"We are starting to put together complete matches now," Nollan said. "Everything we do is in prep for the conference tournament. I'm really proud of this team and where we are heading. We are playing some good volleyball."

The Lopes close out the regular season at GCU Arena with a Thursday match against Seattle U at 6 p.m. and Senior Day next Saturday against Utah Valley at 2 p.m.