Completed Event: Volleyball versus Pepperdine on September 18, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 2
Volleyball
vs Pepperdine
W 3-2
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Saturday, October 28
Phoenix, Ariz.
3 p.m.
Grand Canyon
18-5,11-1WAC
3
vs
0
Southern Utah
5-17,1-11WAC
1
2
3
F
Southern Utah
20
23
16
0
Grand Canyon
25
25
25
3
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
Waves of Lopes step up for season's 14th sweep
10/28/2023 5:47:00 PM | Volleyball, Paul Coro
GCU pulls away from Southern Utah for home win with depth, digs
Fewer than one-third of the women's volleyball teams in the nation have 14 wins this season.
Grand Canyon has 14 shutout wins this season.
The Lopes showed how they can continue dominant success with depth and versatility on Saturday, when they extended their Division I-era program record for sweeps in a season to 14 by beating Southern Utah 3-0 at GCU Arena.
Much like Thursday's win, GCU (18-5, 11-1 WAC) progressed as the contest did for a 25-20, 25-23, 25-16 victory that matched the Lopes' best digs-per-set average of the season (18.7). GCU has won 14 of its past 15 matches.
"We got to showcase our depth a little bit," Lopes head coach Tim Nollan said. "We were able to have some people step up and contribute and get in more rhythm. We started off not as clean as we wanted. Honestly, I thought we were trying to force it and hit it too hard.
"In the break between (Sets) 2 and 3, we talked about being more patient and just making sure we're outworking our opponents. Our skills will take care of themselves."
For the 10th consecutive match, sophomore outside hitter Tatum Parrott led GCU in kills. Hitting .233, Parrott recorded 19 kills and scored 20.5 points to move to fourth nationally for kills per set (5.8) and points per set (6.6).
When the sweep was in peril in a tight second set, Parrott put down kills for the Lopes' final two points and then opened the third set by scoring or serving six points on the way to a 7-1 lead. GCU hit a staggering .441 in the third set with junior middle blocker Alissa Uhlenhop's seventh kill closing the match.
Missing GCU senior outside hitter Ashley Lifgren because of injury, junior outside hitter McKenzie Wise stepped up into a six-rotation role and gave the Lopes eight kills, 11 digs and an ace.
"It was really cool to see the different aspects of the game through the front row as well and getting to play with different people who I haven't been getting to play with yet," Wise said. "It was cool to see how Hope (Hanak-Harper) came in too and just killed it.
"We have tons of talent on the team. It's just nice that anybody can go anywhere. Anaelena (Ramirez) came in the last set and killed it. Bella (Anderson) comes in and serves and kills it. We just have different aspects that put us all together as a great team."
After never trailing Thursday night against Utah Tech, the Lopes led the entire first set Saturday with Parrott getting attack support from Wise and senior outside hitter Stella Gkiourda each adding three first-set kills.
With the score at 22-10, GCU graduate setter Klaire Mitchell and junior middle blocker Trista Strasser teamed on a block and sophomore libero Tatum Thomas served her second ace to set up taking a 1-0 match lead on a Thunderbirds error.
GCU played from behind for most of the second set, but the Lopes tied the score at 13-13, 14-14, 16-16 and 17-17 before taking control with Uhlenhop's consecutive block and kill stretching the Lopes lead to 22-18.
Parrott's kills finished the set on the way to the 19 kills, which was her second-highest total for a three-set match this season.
"I'm glad they pushed us in the first two, and I'm glad we were able to respond in the third and say, 'Enough is enough,' and put our stamp on the game," Nollan said. "I'd much rather have teams compete with us and push us and force us to play well than let us cruise. I don't like doing just barely enough to win. I like playing our style of volleyball and showcasing for our fans and this university."
Mitchell recorded her 53rd career double-double with 41 assists and 11 digs, joining Wise (11) and Tatum Thomas (14 digs) for double-digit digs while freshman Bella Anderson added eight and Gkiourda got seven.
Saturday marked the 13th time that a Lopes opponent hit below .200 this season. GCU, now tied for 28th nationally in winning percentage (.783), matched its home record (7-2) to its away record (7-2) and stayed within a game of WAC leader Stephen F. Austin.
The Lopes will leave next week for their last regular-season road trip with matches at Tarleton State on Thursday and Abilene Christian on Saturday.
"The most important match of the year is the next one," Nollan said.
Grand Canyon has 14 shutout wins this season.
The Lopes showed how they can continue dominant success with depth and versatility on Saturday, when they extended their Division I-era program record for sweeps in a season to 14 by beating Southern Utah 3-0 at GCU Arena.
Much like Thursday's win, GCU (18-5, 11-1 WAC) progressed as the contest did for a 25-20, 25-23, 25-16 victory that matched the Lopes' best digs-per-set average of the season (18.7). GCU has won 14 of its past 15 matches.
"We got to showcase our depth a little bit," Lopes head coach Tim Nollan said. "We were able to have some people step up and contribute and get in more rhythm. We started off not as clean as we wanted. Honestly, I thought we were trying to force it and hit it too hard.
"In the break between (Sets) 2 and 3, we talked about being more patient and just making sure we're outworking our opponents. Our skills will take care of themselves."
For the 10th consecutive match, sophomore outside hitter Tatum Parrott led GCU in kills. Hitting .233, Parrott recorded 19 kills and scored 20.5 points to move to fourth nationally for kills per set (5.8) and points per set (6.6).When the sweep was in peril in a tight second set, Parrott put down kills for the Lopes' final two points and then opened the third set by scoring or serving six points on the way to a 7-1 lead. GCU hit a staggering .441 in the third set with junior middle blocker Alissa Uhlenhop's seventh kill closing the match.
Missing GCU senior outside hitter Ashley Lifgren because of injury, junior outside hitter McKenzie Wise stepped up into a six-rotation role and gave the Lopes eight kills, 11 digs and an ace.
"It was really cool to see the different aspects of the game through the front row as well and getting to play with different people who I haven't been getting to play with yet," Wise said. "It was cool to see how Hope (Hanak-Harper) came in too and just killed it."We have tons of talent on the team. It's just nice that anybody can go anywhere. Anaelena (Ramirez) came in the last set and killed it. Bella (Anderson) comes in and serves and kills it. We just have different aspects that put us all together as a great team."
After never trailing Thursday night against Utah Tech, the Lopes led the entire first set Saturday with Parrott getting attack support from Wise and senior outside hitter Stella Gkiourda each adding three first-set kills.
With the score at 22-10, GCU graduate setter Klaire Mitchell and junior middle blocker Trista Strasser teamed on a block and sophomore libero Tatum Thomas served her second ace to set up taking a 1-0 match lead on a Thunderbirds error.
GCU played from behind for most of the second set, but the Lopes tied the score at 13-13, 14-14, 16-16 and 17-17 before taking control with Uhlenhop's consecutive block and kill stretching the Lopes lead to 22-18.
Parrott's kills finished the set on the way to the 19 kills, which was her second-highest total for a three-set match this season.
"I'm glad they pushed us in the first two, and I'm glad we were able to respond in the third and say, 'Enough is enough,' and put our stamp on the game," Nollan said. "I'd much rather have teams compete with us and push us and force us to play well than let us cruise. I don't like doing just barely enough to win. I like playing our style of volleyball and showcasing for our fans and this university."
Mitchell recorded her 53rd career double-double with 41 assists and 11 digs, joining Wise (11) and Tatum Thomas (14 digs) for double-digit digs while freshman Bella Anderson added eight and Gkiourda got seven.
Saturday marked the 13th time that a Lopes opponent hit below .200 this season. GCU, now tied for 28th nationally in winning percentage (.783), matched its home record (7-2) to its away record (7-2) and stayed within a game of WAC leader Stephen F. Austin.
The Lopes will leave next week for their last regular-season road trip with matches at Tarleton State on Thursday and Abilene Christian on Saturday.
"The most important match of the year is the next one," Nollan said.
Team Stats
SUU
GCU
Kills
31
49
Errors
17
17
Attempts
108
118
Hitting %
.130
.271
Points
39.0
60.0
Assists
28
46
Aces
2
4
Blocks
6
7
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
19
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
8
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
LIB
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
LIB
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOH
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