Strong Lopes defense leads to win at Utah Tech

Thursday, October 10

St. George, Utah

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

11-5,4-1WAC

Utah Tech

9-6,3-2WAC

Grand Canyon

Utah Tech

Parrott, Strasser and Lifgren celebrating

Photo by: Nathan Peters

10/10/2024 8:51:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

GCU ties season high with 77 digs in 3-1 conference victory

By: Nathan Peters

ST. GEORGE, Utah – Grand Canyon's first of two weekend road matches resulted in a 25-22, 25-22, 20-25, 25-12 conference win at Utah Tech that was led by the Lopes' back-row defense.

GCU (11-5, 4-1 WAC) has won its last five matches with Utah Tech. The Lopes' four-match winning streak that puts them in a WAC second-place tie with Southern Utah, where they play Saturday.

The defense has dominated for GCU lately at the net, ranking 13th in the nation with 2.78 blocks per set. Thursday night was marked by digs, though, tallying a season-high tying 77.

"It took a solid team defensive effort ... I thought Utah Tech did a good job utilizing their middles early," Lopes head coach Kendra Potts said. "It took us a second, and I'm proud of the defense behind our block, which really stepped up. In particular, Mykenna Nelson, Tatum Parrott and Taylor Kubacak."

Nelson, a graduate libero, returned to the campus where she played most of her collegiate career and finished the night with a team-high 19 digs. Kubacak, a GCU freshman setter, followed with 17 and Parrott, a junior outside hitter, added 15 to go with her match-high 20 kills.

"I was really proud to see that side of our game step up tonight," Potts said.

The Lopes opened with a tight first set before an 8-3 GCU run was capped by a Parrott service ace for a 20-14 lead that forced a Utah Tech timeout.

At the conclusion of the first set, Parrott had 10 kills on .409 hitting, pairing with 2.5 blocks from senior middle blocker Alissa Uhlenhop.

The second set saw GCU trail 7-2 before a 9-2 retaliation ensued to take an 11-9 lead. Lopes junior outside Anaelena Ramirez had three of her 13 kills during that stretch, and graduate outside hitter Ashley Lifgren landed two of her 10 kills in that crucial run.

The Lopes hung onto the lead the rest of the set with two late service aces from sophomore Bella Anderson and a set-clinching kill from junior opposite Magdalena Juric.

The third set was knotted at 13-13 before a 4-0 run from the Trailblazers gave enough cushion to finish the third at 25-20 and tighten the GCU match lead to 2-1.

The Lopes ignited the final set with a 10-2 run, including offense from Lifgren, Uhlenhop, Parrott and Ramirez.

"I'm proud of our ability to be able to make in-game adjustments and realize that at any time anyone on our team can be a difference maker," Potts said.

The Lopes had two athletes with double-doubles, thanks to Parrots 20 kills and 15 digs and Kubacak's 31 assists and 17 digs.

"I am proud of Taylor to be able to come in and run the five-one offense, get some positive block touches and a couple stops at the net," Potts said. "Being able to show versatility when we have to make in-game adjustments is huge."

GCU will now turn its focus toward playing at Southern Utah on Saturday at 6 p.m. (Phoenix time). The Lopes will have an opportunity to take sole ownership of second place if they defeat the Thunderbirds.

"We told the girls to enjoy tonight, but tomorrow all we're worrying about is Southern Utah," Potts said. "Obviously as a staff we are already learning them and and getting to know their stuff. They beat Utah Tech, and I think they have some really good pieces and a different system that we have not seen lately. We're gonna get their best, and that's what we expect."