WAC play opens with 2-match trip


Grand Canyon Lopes (12-2, 0-0 WAC)	at	Utah Tech Trailblazers (5-8, 0-0 WAC)	Seattle U Redhawks (5-5, 0-0 WAC)
		Friday, March 22 2 p.m. (Phoenix time)	Sunday, March 24 9 a.m. (Phoenix time)

Grand Canyon is set to open WAC play with a two-game road trip at Utah Tech on Friday and Seattle U on Sunday. The Lopes enter conference action as the reigning WAC tournament champions and are ranked No. 63 nationally.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

NATIONAL RANK: GCU entered the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings for the first time in program history in late February, and the Lopes continue to live in the rankings. Entering WAC play, GCU sits at No. 63 nationally after ranking as high as No. 49 this season.
PUEHSE RANKED: Lopes graduate student Natasha Puehse is 11-0 on the top singles court and made more program history this week. Puehse became the program's first nationally ranked player when she entered the ITA individual rankings at No. 114.
CONFERENCE PREVIEW: GCU is riding its most successful nonconference showing into WAC play. The Lopes play a seven-match conference schedule with four home contests and three road contests. The conference campaign culminates with the WAC Tennis Championships on April 18-20 in Harlingen, Texas.

SCOUTING

Utah Tech is looking for its first win over a Division I opponent this season. All five of the Trailblazers' victories have come over non-Division I foes. Utah Tech was 2-19 last season and didn't win a conference match in nine tries.

Seattle U has split its first 10 matches of the season and will open WAC play on Friday against Stephen F. Austin. The Redhawks are 2-1 at home this season. Seattle U is coming off of a 4-11 season with a 2-5 conference record.

WHAT'S NEXT

GCU will host its conference home opener against UT Rio Grande Valley on Thursday, March 28 at 2 p.m.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

SCOUTING

WHAT'S NEXT

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Natasha Puehse

Grand Canyon University Athletics