Lopes seize 15th sweep of season

Saturday, November 4

Abilene, Texas

9 a.m.

Grand Canyon

19-6,12-2WAC

Abilene Christian

11-15,6-8WAC

Grand Canyon

Abilene Christian

11/4/2023 12:20:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

GCU hits .398 at Abilene or 2nd-best clip of 2023

By: Adrianna Candelaria

ABILENE, Texas — Grand Canyon showed out in a Saturday morning sweep (25-15, 25-16, 25-17) at Abilene Christian, which it swept at home on Sept. 28 as well, to maintain its second-place WAC standing. GCU's offense fired on all cylinders, producing its second-best hitting percentage of the season (.398), only previously topped by a .440 clip from the previous Lopes-Wildcats meeting.

"I'm really proud of our team and the way we responded to a setback on Thursday," GCU head coach Tim Nollan said. "What defines greatness is how a team responds. Our performance today showed what our team wants to be known for."

Junior outside hitter Stella Gkiourda led the Lopes (19-6, 12-2 WAC) with a season-high 18 points in her third double-double of the season (12 kills, 11 digs) with a .435 hitting percentage. The Athens, Greece, native also notched six blocks, including two solo stuffs, and two service aces.

Meanwhile, GCU sophomore outside hitter Tatum Parrott posted 16 kills on 36 attempts with only error for a .417 clip, and 16 points on the match.

The Lopes kept the Wildcats (11-15, WAC 6-8) on their toes with strong offense up the middle as well, with middle blockers Trista Strasser (sophomore) and Alissa Uhlenhop (junior) tallying six kills apiece for .714 and .444 respective hitting percentages.

Graduate setter Klaire Mitchell helped GCU to its seventh match of over .350 hitting with 38 assists, three digs and two kills.

GCU held the Abilene Christian offense to .108, the fourth-lowest clip of their season, only allowing .059, .103 and .172 sets, while the Lopes dominated with successive .481, .318 and .444 sets.

"We're looking forward to competing one last weekend in front of our home crowd before we head off to the WAC Tournament," Nollan said.

The Lopes return to GCU Arena for a Thursday match against first-place Stephen F. Austin (24-3, 13-0 WAC)and Saturday's Senior Day match versus fifth-place UT Arlington (18-8, 7-6 WAC).