Lopes drop final regular-season match

Thursday, November 14

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

18-10,11-5WAC

Abilene Christian

10-16,5-10WAC

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Abilene Christian	25	19	25	25	3
Grand Canyon	18	25	20	22	1

Photo by: Jayden Todd

11/14/2024 11:21:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

No. 2 seed GCU looks to conference tournament at top seed UT Arlington

By: Nathan Peters

Grand Canyon fell in four sets to Abilene Christian in its regular-season finale Thursday night at Global Credit Union Arena.

The Lopes (18-10, 11-5 WAC) entered the match with the second seed locked down for the WAC Tournament, while Abilene Christian (10-16, 5-10 WAC) was fighting for its playoff life, needing to win one of its two matches remaining or have Tarleton State lose one of its two matches.

The Lopes began the match taking an early lead off two kills from senior middle blocker Trista Strasser with junior outside hitter Tatum Parrott adding one to the box score.

After missing the Monday match at California Baptist, Parrott finished Thursday tying a four-set season high with 21 kills while adding 13 digs.

The Wildcats fought back from the early deficit and clinched the opening set 25-18 from a 5-1 run.

GCU trailed 14-11 in the second set before finding rhythm with an 11-3 swing that put the Lopes in the driver's seat for a 25-19 set win that evened the match at 1-1.

Graduate outside hitter Ashley Lifgren closed out her final match at Global Credit Union Arena by piling up seven of her 10 kills at the end of the second set.

Lopes freshman setter Taylor Kubacak had two of her three blocks in the second set and dished dished 29 assists and a service ace in the match.

GCU battled in the third but was never able to take the lead from Abilene Christian, which clinched the set 25-20 for a 2-1 match lead.

The fourth set saw GCU lead 20-18 off a kill from junior opposite Magdalena Juric, who was assisted by graduate libero Mykenna Nelson.

Nelson had 23 digs and two service aces in the final regular season match of her career.

The Wildcats, who had a season-high 10 blocks, closed the match with a 7-2 run to win the fourth set 25-22.

GCU still finished with its most regular-season home wins (nine) since 2021.

The Lopes now look ahead to the WAC Tournament in Arlington, Texas, which begins with their Thursday quarterfinal match.