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Grand Canyon University Athletics
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Lopes' 2024 schedule unveiled by Potts
7/5/2024 4:15:00 PM | Volleyball
GCU set for Big Ten, Big 12, WCC, Big East nonconference matchups
The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team released its 2024 schedule on Friday, the first under new Lopes head coach Kendra Potts as GCU looks to defend its 2023 WAC title.
"We are excited to build off the momentum from 2023 and challenge ourselves with tough competition in the preseason, helping us prepare for our last conference season in the WAC," Potts said. "This schedule provides challenging and exciting opportunities to be pushed from the start."
After a season full of accolades that included the program's first WAC Tournament Championship, first NCAA Tournament appearance and three players landing on All-WAC teams, GCU will look to continue its upward trajectory under a new regime.
GCU returns All-WAC first teamer Tatum Parrott and All-WAC second teamer Trista Strasser. Parrott, an outside hitter, was also named an American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American Honorable Mention and to the Pacific South All-Region team last season.
Parrott led the WAC in total kills (416), points per set (5.3) and kills per set (4.5), ranking 23rd, eighth and 10th, in the nation as well.
Strasser, a senior middle, tallied 85 kills, 69 total blocks and 13 blocks solos in 51 conference sets with .358 hitting during her junior campaign.
GCU will begin the season at home on Aug. 30 against Montana, the programs' second all-time meeting (also: 2019). That match took place in Spokane, Washington, and resulted in a GCU sweep. Last season, the home-opening Lope-A-Palooza match was played in front of a raucous 7,108 fans.
The Montana match is part of the GCU Invitational which will also include matches against Oregon State (Aug. 31) and Fresno State (Sept. 1).
GCU then heads to Fort Collins, Colorado, to compete in the Ram Volleyball Classic with the likes of Central Arkansas (Sept. 6), Oregon (Sept. 7), and host Colorado State (Sept. 8).
The match against the Ducks provides experience against a fellow NCAA tournament team, with Oregon advancing to the Elite 8 last season.
The Lopes return home to face Portland State (Sept. 13) as well as Butler (Sept. 14) and West Coast Conference team Pacific (Sept. 15) in the GCU Classic.
The Lopes close the nonconference schedule with a trip to the Big West-WAC Challenge where they will face UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton in Riverside, California.
GCU opens the conference schedule at home against UT Arlington on Sept. 26.
The Lopes head into WAC play after ranking in the nation's top 35 in four major statistical categories one season ago. GCU ranked No. 14 in blocks/set (2.71), 19th in hitting percentage (0.274), 32nd in total blocks (293) and 31st in aces per set (1.82). The mark for hitting percentage and aces per set was the best in the conference.
The Lopes will head to Seattle U (Sept. 28) and Utah Valley (Oct. 5) as the first conference road trip of the year.
During a break in the conference schedule, the Lopes will face off against crosstown rival Arizona State at Mullett Arena on Oct. 21. The two programs have not met since 1990.
GCU will close out the regular season at home on Nov. 14 against Abilene Christian before heading to Arlington for the WAC Tournament which will run from Nov. 21-23.
"Our players are eager to compete at the highest level and this schedule will fulfill those goals," Potts said.
"We are excited to build off the momentum from 2023 and challenge ourselves with tough competition in the preseason, helping us prepare for our last conference season in the WAC," Potts said. "This schedule provides challenging and exciting opportunities to be pushed from the start."
After a season full of accolades that included the program's first WAC Tournament Championship, first NCAA Tournament appearance and three players landing on All-WAC teams, GCU will look to continue its upward trajectory under a new regime.
GCU returns All-WAC first teamer Tatum Parrott and All-WAC second teamer Trista Strasser. Parrott, an outside hitter, was also named an American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American Honorable Mention and to the Pacific South All-Region team last season.
Parrott led the WAC in total kills (416), points per set (5.3) and kills per set (4.5), ranking 23rd, eighth and 10th, in the nation as well.
Strasser, a senior middle, tallied 85 kills, 69 total blocks and 13 blocks solos in 51 conference sets with .358 hitting during her junior campaign.
GCU will begin the season at home on Aug. 30 against Montana, the programs' second all-time meeting (also: 2019). That match took place in Spokane, Washington, and resulted in a GCU sweep. Last season, the home-opening Lope-A-Palooza match was played in front of a raucous 7,108 fans.
The Montana match is part of the GCU Invitational which will also include matches against Oregon State (Aug. 31) and Fresno State (Sept. 1).
GCU then heads to Fort Collins, Colorado, to compete in the Ram Volleyball Classic with the likes of Central Arkansas (Sept. 6), Oregon (Sept. 7), and host Colorado State (Sept. 8).
The match against the Ducks provides experience against a fellow NCAA tournament team, with Oregon advancing to the Elite 8 last season.
The Lopes return home to face Portland State (Sept. 13) as well as Butler (Sept. 14) and West Coast Conference team Pacific (Sept. 15) in the GCU Classic.
The Lopes close the nonconference schedule with a trip to the Big West-WAC Challenge where they will face UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton in Riverside, California.
GCU opens the conference schedule at home against UT Arlington on Sept. 26.
The Lopes head into WAC play after ranking in the nation's top 35 in four major statistical categories one season ago. GCU ranked No. 14 in blocks/set (2.71), 19th in hitting percentage (0.274), 32nd in total blocks (293) and 31st in aces per set (1.82). The mark for hitting percentage and aces per set was the best in the conference.
The Lopes will head to Seattle U (Sept. 28) and Utah Valley (Oct. 5) as the first conference road trip of the year.
During a break in the conference schedule, the Lopes will face off against crosstown rival Arizona State at Mullett Arena on Oct. 21. The two programs have not met since 1990.
GCU will close out the regular season at home on Nov. 14 against Abilene Christian before heading to Arlington for the WAC Tournament which will run from Nov. 21-23.
"Our players are eager to compete at the highest level and this schedule will fulfill those goals," Potts said.
Players Mentioned
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/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball"It would be really cool to beat my mom's record." - Aubrey Goodere | Volleyball
Tuesday, January 06
Bella Nunez | Women's Volleyball
Monday, November 10
Kendra Potts Post Match Press Conference | GCU vs NAU 9.7.25
Monday, September 08
“You don’t know what it’s like.” | The Lope-a-Palooza Experience
Saturday, August 30