8th straight win puts Lopes at 5-0 in WAC

Thursday, October 5

Arlington, Texas

4 p.m.

Grand Canyon

12-4,5-0WAC

UT Arlington

13-5,2-3WAC

Grand Canyon

UT Arlington

Photo by: Zach Campbell

10/5/2023 8:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

GCU remains undefeated in conference play after 3-1 victory at UT Arlington

By: Adrianna Candelaria

Grand Canyon's sweep streak may have come to an end, but its winning ways certainly have not.

GCU posted its eighth consecutive win Thursday night in a 3-1 home triumph against UT Arlington to remain undefeated in the WAC this season.

"Tonight is a win that will make our team better," said Lopes head coach Tim Nollan, whose team is 12-4 with the program's first 5-0 WAC start. "You have to struggle and go through some things to have growth."

With a season-high 25 points, sophomore outside hitter Tatum Parrott led GCU offensively with 18 kills and a .333 hitting percentage, while recording a career-high 20 digs and four blocks for her second double-double of the season. Parrott also matched her career high of four aces, which is tied for fourth most in GCU's Division I era. The Phoenix native notched two four-ace matches last season. Parrott leads the WAC in points (254.5), kills per set (4.2) and aces per set (0.5).

Meanwhile, Thanksgiving came early for Lopesmiddle blockers Alissa Uhlenhop (junior) and Trista Strasser (sophomore) as the two feasted for .500 and .412 respective hitting percentages and combined for eight blocks. Uhlenhop notched a career-best night, with 15 points and 13 kills, in addition to tying her digs career high with two. Strasser recorded season highs for kills (nine) and points (11.5) as well.

GCU graduate setter Klaire Mitchell (40 assists, 17 digs) etched her sixth double-double this season and contributed three of the Lopes' 11 aces to just three for UT Arlington (13-5, 2-3 WAC). Lopes outside hitters McKenzie Wise and Stella Gkiourda posted one ace apiece while sophomore libero Tatum Thomas notched two. GCU ranks fifth nationallywith a WAC-best 2.3 aces per set.

Thomas defended the floor with 13 digs and had seven assists on the match as well, while GCU put up 10 blocks at the net to UT Arlington's eight.

Despite dropping the first set 25-23, the Lopes brought the fire in the second frame,, dominating the Mavericks 25-13. With the matche even at 1-1, GCU built a .350 hitting percentage in the third set to overpower UT Arlington 25-20. In one final push, the Lopes clinched the fourth frame on a 3-0 scoring run comprised of a Ramirez kill, a block by Ramirez and Strasser and a kill from Parrott.

The Lopes travel to Nacadogches, Texas, for a showdown with fellow conference leader Stephen F. Austin (16-3, WAC 5-0) at 10 a.m. (Phoenix time) on Saturday.