Sweep of Abilene Christian clinches WAC tourney spot

Thursday, October 31

Abilene, Texas

4 p.m.

Grand Canyon

15-8,8-3WAC

Abilene Christian

8-14,3-8WAC

Grand Canyon

Abilene Christian

Photo by: Nate Cochran

10/31/2024 6:52:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Parrott, Strasser combine for 19 kills, 10 blocks in GCU road win

By: Nathan Peters

ABILENE, Texas — Grand Canyon was no tricks and all treats on Halloween with a Thursday night sweep at Abilene Christian that clinched a WAC Tournament berth.

The Lopes (15-8, 8-3 WAC) have faced each WAC opponent at least once with the Wildcats coming to Phoenix to close out the regular season on Nov. 14.

The match got out to a strong and efficient start for the Lopes when the middle of the set provided a 9-0 GCU run in which junior outside hitter Tatum Parrott and junior opposite Magdalena Juric accounted for two kills each to bring the lead to 19-5.

Parrott led the match with 14 kills on a hitting clip of .303, her second .300-plus effort in the past three matches, and added seven digs and two service aces.

The Lopes closed the set 25-11 on a combination block point from freshman middle blocker Aubrey Goodere and graduate setter Ava Mason.

Goodere, in her second match back from injury, hit .400 with three total blocks.

Mason started at setter for GCU, tallying 19 assists, four digs and two service aces.

The second set was tight with a late push from Abilene Christian that resulted in a 23-23 deadlock before the Lopes found Parrott for a kill. Following that, senior middle blocker Trista Strasser detonated the ball for a 25-23 set victory and 2-0 match lead.

The third set was much more reminiscent of the first.

Lopes graduate libero Mykenna Nelson had a strong night, tying her season best of 18 digs in a three-set match.

GCU was tied 8-8 before a 9-2 run gave the Lopes a comfortable lead.

The run consisted of two of the Lopes' five service aces, one of which came from Parrott and the other from freshman setter Taylor Kubacak.

Graduate outside hitter Ashley Lifgren landed one of her nine kills to push the lead to 21-12.

A monster rejection from Strasser closed the match with a 25-15 third set. Strasser led the match with seven blocks.

The Lopes head to face Tarleton State for a Saturday match at 11 a.m. (Phoenix time). The Texans lost 3-0 to California Baptist on Thursday evening to assist the Lopes in clinching the tournament berth. GCU remains tied for second place with Utah Tech.