2nd-set surge highlights NCAA tourney debut loss

Friday, December 1

Pullman, Wash.

8 p.m.

Grand Canyon

23-8,13-3WAC

Washington State

25-7,14-6Pac-12

Grand Canyon

Washington St.

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

12/1/2023 11:30:00 PM | Volleyball, Paul Coro

Box Score Photo Gallery

No. 10 Washington State fights off 4 set points to sweep GCU at home

By: Paul Coro

PULLMAN, Wash. – Once the most memorable season ever for Grand Canyon volleyball had ended not long after an extra-points second set nearly became GCU's most pivotal set ever, Lopes head coach Tim Nollan wanted more NCAA tournament time.

"If they want to play again, we'll go right now," Lopes head coach Tim Nollan said after an NCAA tournament first-round loss to No. 10 Washington State on Friday night.

Pullman, WA Dec.1, 2023: GCU falls 3 sets to 0 against Washington State University in their NCAA DI tournament debut at the Bohler Athletic Complex at Washington State University. Photo David Kadlubowski/GCU

Pullman, WA Dec.1, 2023: GCU falls 3 sets to 0 against Washington State University in their NCAA DI tournament debut at the Bohler Athletic Complex at Washington State University. Photo David Kadlubowski/GCU

GCU left a mark on the Cougars when the Lopes held a 20-15 lead and earned four set points before an inch of ball movement here or a split second of decision delay there dropped the 31-29 set and changed momentum in a rollicking Bohler Gymnasium.

Washington State (25-7) moved to 14-0 when it hits .300 or better in a 25-12, 31-29, 25-17 victory that spoiled GCU's NCAA Division I tournament debut.

The Lopes (24-8) went from their lowest-scoring set of the season in a nerve-riddled first set to showing the nation a GCU brand of volleyball with net pressure and relentless hustle for extended rallies.

The Lopes outhit the Cougars with a .283 second set that included 17 digs and five blocks, but they could not put away Washington State in front of a crowd of 2,976 fans that was striped with a section of purple backers.

"I am super proud of our team and what we did in that second set," Nollan said. "The ball bounces a different way. We make one more play. The ball rolls on our side, not their side. It changes the whole dynamic of the match. Yet, hats off to them. Great environment here. Great event. I would've loved to see that second set bounce differently."

After GCU played with uncharacteristic indecision and miscommunication in the lopsided first set, graduate setter Klaire Mitchell led the Lopes out of it in the second set with more than 50 of her relatives and friends making the 90-minute trip from her hometown of Couer d'Alene, Idaho, for her decorated career's final match.

Mitchell tossed in two dump kills and got their leading scorer, sophomore outside hitter Tatum Parrott, rolling for seven second-set kills. Parrott's onslaught included two from the attack line, a block and a kill that followed her own dig.

Pullman, WA Dec.1, 2023: GCU falls 3 sets to 0 against Washington State University in their NCAA DI tournament debut at the Bohler Athletic Complex at Washington State University. Photo David Kadlubowski/GCU

"It was kind of surreal," Parrott said of experiencing the NCAA tournament atmosphere. "I was little nervous, obviously, to start. That was normal for almost everyone because it was a big game and none of us had ever been here before. Once we settled in, I calmed down and we said, 'Let's just play our game.' "

And they did with a key service run from freshman Bella Anderson to open the lead to 11-7 and force a Washington State time out.

The Lopes extended the second-set lead to as much as 20-15 and led 24-22 when Washington State senior outside hitter Pia Timmer came up with consecutive set-saving kills, the later coming despite a pancake dig by GCU sophomore libero Tatum Thomas.

Even then, the Lopes staved off the Cougars to create set points at 27-26 and 28-27 before trailing for the first time at 29-28 despite a brilliant Parrott dig. Parrott fought off that set point with one of her team-high 12 kills, but Washington State graduate outside hitter Iman Isanovic followed up her eight-kill first set with a go-ahead kill and senior middle blocker Magda Jehlarova gave the Cougars a 2-0 match lead with a set-point kill.

"We knew they (the Lopes) played great defense and blocked really well," said Washington State head coach Jen Greeny, whose team is making its eighth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance. "From the service line, that first service set didn't show what they'd shown all year, but the second set certainly did. They were able to go on some serving runs and they outblocked us 10-5. Their onside hitters were phenomenal and our local kid, Klaire Mitchell, does a really, really good job."

Pullman, WA Dec.1, 2023: GCU falls 3 sets to 0 against Washington State University in their NCAA DI tournament debut at the Bohler Athletic Complex at Washington State University. Photo David Kadlubowski/GCU

Mitchell closed her career with a 28-assist, seven-dig outing in which GCU's rhythm carried over to the third set, where they led 9-8 after junior middle blocker Trista Strasser's block topped a 4-0 run. It was tied at 12-12 before Washington State, the nation's 10th-best hitting team, dominated down the stretch and hit .375 for the match.

After the final point, the Lopes huddled one last time as the program's groundbreaking NCAA tournament team and walked off the court. After 4,582 career assists and 1,178 career digs, Mitchell trailed the group and looked back one last time for her family.

"I'm so thankful I got an extra year," Mitchell said. "This is such a special group to go out with. I'm so excited for them. When I first got here, this was not really in my eyesight, but we made it. It's been so awesome. Our culture is amazing. I'm so excited to watch in TV and the stands, cheer them on and see them keep going."

The 1,250-mile trip from Phoenix to snowy Pullman was a long one, lining up with how far the program came since Mitchell joined GCU. The Lopes had a .321 wining percentage after joining Division I until the arrival, who picked up increasingly talented classes to go 95-36 during her tenure for a .725 winning percentage.

"This group has a lot to be proud of," Nollan said. "If you look back to what the program was before they got here to where it is today, it's night and day. They set a standard that now these future classes have to live up to and improve upon.

"This match welcomed us to the national stage. It was pretty good volleyball, even though it didn't go our way … I'm glad that they got to showcase to the rest of the country how good they are and how hard they compete."