Completed Event: Volleyball versus Pepperdine on September 18, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 2
Volleyball
vs Pepperdine
W 3-2
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Friday, August 25
Winston-Salem, N.C.
1 p.m.
Grand Canyon
1-0,0-0WAC
3
vs
0
Northeastern
0-2,0-0CAA
1
2
3
F
Grand Canyon
25
25
25
3
Northeastern
16
17
19
0
Photo by: Jaylynn Nash
Season starts with sweep over Northeastern
8/25/2023 2:37:00 PM | Volleyball
GCU debuts in North Carolina tourney with .391 hitting, its 4th-best DI-era percentage
WINSTON SALEM, N.C. — Grand Canyon women's volleyball swept Northeastern in its season opener at the Wake Forest Invitational on Friday, holding the Huskies below 20 points in each set.
"This afternoon was a good start for us," Lopes head coach Tim Nollan said. "We served well, got some very solid performances from a number of people and applied the type of pressure we want to constantly put on our opponents."
In a 25-16, 25-17, 25-19 victory, the Lopes notched a dominant .391 hitting percentage, bolstered by junior middle blocker Sydney Reed (.667) and outside hitters sophomore Anaelena Ramirez (.467) and junior Stella Gkiourda (.429). Consistency proved to be a common theme among the team, with six offensive weapons over .300, featuring outside hitters Tatum Parrott (sophomore) and McKenzie Wise (junior) at .296 and .286, respectively. Even graduate setter Klaire Mitchell was an efficient hitter at .500 with a kill.
Mitchell accumulated 31 assists, eight digs and two blocks and tied Wise with three service aces, contributing to a team total of 11 that is fourth best in the program's Division I era.
Delivering on defense, one of Nollan's points of emphasis this season, was key for the Lopes on Friday, when they totaled 10 blocks and 32 digs.
GCU senior outside hitter Ashley Lifgren owned the net with four blocks, including three solos, while hitting .333 with five kills for 9 1/2 points. Reed and sophomore middle blocker Trista Strasser picked up three blocks apiece while Strasser hit .375, scored six points and posted a solo block in her GCU debut. In the back row, sophomore libero Tatum Thomas recorded 11 digs, five assists and one service ace.
The Lopes maintained control throughout the match, immediately stealing the lead after Northeastern scored the first point, leading the second set in its entirety and taking definitive momentum after a 5-5 lock in the third frame. With Parrott's serve on an 8-0 run building their largest lead at 18-5 in the first set, the Lopes maintained composure to finish ahead by nine and set the tone for their season-opening sweep.
Northeastern provided a third-set challenge to close GCU's lead to 20-18 before the Lopes scored five of the final six points with Thomas setting a Parrott kill on match point.
GCU continues its season Saturday at 10 a.m. (Phoenix time) against Toledo at Wake Forest.
"This afternoon was a good start for us," Lopes head coach Tim Nollan said. "We served well, got some very solid performances from a number of people and applied the type of pressure we want to constantly put on our opponents."
In a 25-16, 25-17, 25-19 victory, the Lopes notched a dominant .391 hitting percentage, bolstered by junior middle blocker Sydney Reed (.667) and outside hitters sophomore Anaelena Ramirez (.467) and junior Stella Gkiourda (.429). Consistency proved to be a common theme among the team, with six offensive weapons over .300, featuring outside hitters Tatum Parrott (sophomore) and McKenzie Wise (junior) at .296 and .286, respectively. Even graduate setter Klaire Mitchell was an efficient hitter at .500 with a kill.
Mitchell accumulated 31 assists, eight digs and two blocks and tied Wise with three service aces, contributing to a team total of 11 that is fourth best in the program's Division I era.
Delivering on defense, one of Nollan's points of emphasis this season, was key for the Lopes on Friday, when they totaled 10 blocks and 32 digs.
GCU senior outside hitter Ashley Lifgren owned the net with four blocks, including three solos, while hitting .333 with five kills for 9 1/2 points. Reed and sophomore middle blocker Trista Strasser picked up three blocks apiece while Strasser hit .375, scored six points and posted a solo block in her GCU debut. In the back row, sophomore libero Tatum Thomas recorded 11 digs, five assists and one service ace.
The Lopes maintained control throughout the match, immediately stealing the lead after Northeastern scored the first point, leading the second set in its entirety and taking definitive momentum after a 5-5 lock in the third frame. With Parrott's serve on an 8-0 run building their largest lead at 18-5 in the first set, the Lopes maintained composure to finish ahead by nine and set the tone for their season-opening sweep.
Northeastern provided a third-set challenge to close GCU's lead to 20-18 before the Lopes scored five of the final six points with Thomas setting a Parrott kill on match point.
GCU continues its season Saturday at 10 a.m. (Phoenix time) against Toledo at Wake Forest.
Team Stats
GCU
NE
Kills
38
35
Errors
4
16
Attempts
87
88
Hitting %
.391
.216
Points
59.0
41.0
Assists
36
32
Aces
11
4
Blocks
10
2
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
5
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
OH
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
LIB
/ Volleyball
OH
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