GCU Arena to host Utah Tech, Southern Utah

Thursday, October 26

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Utah Tech

Buy Tickets

10/24/2023 11:41:00 AM | Volleyball

Homestand continues as Lopes engage in WAC title race

By: Adrianna Candelaria

Utah Tech: 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 26 \| Southern Utah: 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 28

	GRAND CANYON LOPES (16-5, 9-1 WAC)	vs.	UTAH TECH TRAILBLAZERS (8-12, 4-6 WAC)
			SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS (5-15, 1-9 WAC)

WATCH: ESPN+ | STATS: View

The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team prepares to host eighth-place Utah Tech on Thursday night and 11th-place Southern Utah on Saturday. Thursday evening is Volleyween themed, while Saturday will celebrate families and former campers.

3 THINGS TO KNOW

Second-place GCU leads the WAC in aces per set (2.15), team aces (161) and hitting percentage (.275), while also respectively ranking fourth, 14th and 20th nationally in those categories this season.
Sophomore outside hitter Tatum Parrott leads the conference in kills per set (4.44) and points per set (5.29); Parrott ranks sixth (points per set) and 13th (kills per set) in the nation this season.
Graduate setter Klaire Mitchell surpassed 4,000 career assists on Oct. 7 and remains eighth nationally among active Division I setters for career assists (4,205). Mitchell also leads the WAC in assists per set (10.28) and aces per set (0.45).

SCOUTING UTAH TECH

GCU carries a 14-8 record against Utah Tech and holds a three-game series win streak, most recently sweeping the Trailblazers on the road on Sept. 23.
The Trailblazers do not lead the WAC in any statistical categories as a team or individually.
Utah Tech is led offensively by Kennedi Knudsen (3.1 kills per set), and Taela Laufiso (7.4 assists per set), and defensively by Emma Ricks (3.3 digs per set), and Tricia Tua'one (1.2 blocks per set).

SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH

Five of Southern Utah's nine conference losses have stemmed from sweeps, including a 3-0 loss to GCU on Sept. 21 to open the WAC season.
The Thunderbirds do not lead the WAC in any statistical categories as a team or individually.
The Lopes hold a 8-11 program record against the Thunderbirds, with Southern Utah winning the first nine matchups, dating back to 1981. However, the Lopes and the Thunderbirds have only met on four occasions since GCU became a Division I program. The Lopes hold a three-match win streak, sweeping the Thunderbirds last season and winning earlier this season.

LAST TIME OUT

GCU vs. Utah Valley, Seattle U (W, 2-0)

Sophomore outside hitter Tatum Parrott notched 34 kills (4.3 per set), a .368 hitting percentage, 12 digs (1.5 per set), and six blocks for 37 points.
Sophomore libero Tatum Thomas posted 14 digs (1.8 per set), 15 receptions (.933), five assists (0.63 per set)) and two aces.
Graduate setter Klaire Mitchell guided the team to .289 hitting percentage, recorded 80 assists (10.0 per set), 18 digs (2.3 per set), seven blocks, four kills and 11.5 points.

WHAT'S NEXT?

GCU heads out on a final road trip to face ninth-place Tarleton State (12-12, 3-7 WAC) on Nov. 2 and fourth-place Abilene Christian (10-12, 5-5 WAC) on Nov. 4.