GCU defeats Oregon State in 4 sets

Saturday, August 31

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Oregon State

Photo by: Jayden Todd

8/31/2024 11:12:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Kubacak balances offense with 44 assists, helps Lopes find flow

By: Nathan Peters

The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team took its momentum from an opening night victory to defeat Oregon State 25-21, 25-23, 21-25, 25-17 on Saturday night at Global Credit Union Arena.

GCU (2-0) completed the victory with a team effort while finding its flow.

The match opened with the Lopes trailing 4-3 early, and it was not until 14-13 that the Lopes regained the first-set lead.

GCU senior middle blocker Trista Strasser closed the opening set with two of her nine kills on the night, recording one to give the Lopes set point and another to take the set and a 1-0 match lead.

"Our plan was to give the ball to the middle a lot more tonight because we just thought that we had a pretty good matchup," Lopes head coach Kendra Potts said. "I thought they executed that well."

GCU freshman middle blocker Aubrey Goodere led the team in hitting percentage with .667 on 12 attempts.

"They just kept themselves a part of the play all night long," Potts said of the middle blockers.

The second set stayed close most of the way until a 22-22 tie was broken up by junior outside hitter Tatum Parrott and sophomore outside hitter Ellie Frey doing what they did for the Lopes all night. They finished plays when it mattered most, helping GCU out of a 23-22 deficit by followin a Beavers error with a kill each.

"Tatum is being Tatum," Potts said. "She's doing all the things that she usually does."

Parrott had 20 kills on the four-set evening after recording 17 kills in Friday's season-opening sweep.

"I've been really proud to see Ellie," Potts said. "She is coming in and just playing with such poise, hitting really clean. She's not running into errors, and she's extending points and allowing us to play some defense."

The Fort Wayne, Indiana, native rattled off four consecutive aces Friday night and picked up right where she left off by hitting .364 on Saturday night attacks.

Despite a battle in the third set, Oregon State managed to deny the sweep thanks to outside hitter Lauren Rumel closing out the set with a kill and an assist.

GCU freshman setter Taylor Kubacak followed up her collegiate debut with another impressive performance, landing 44 assists and adding nine digs to go with a solo stuff block.

"I'm really proud of Taylor and how she's running the floor as a freshman," Potts said. "She is open to feedback and is being tactful rather than emotional, which is really nice to see in a freshman setter."

The Lopes closed the night with rhythm and flow. After being tied at 12-12 in the fourth set, the home squad closed on a 13-5 run to clinch the match.

GCU will close out the GCU Invitational against Fresno State on Sunday, when the Lopes and Bulldogs play at 2 p.m. in Global Credit Union Arena.

Fresno State is 1-1 on the weekend after losing to Oregon State on Friday (3-1) and bouncing back with a victory against Montana (3-0) on Saturday.

"What I really love is we're getting in a flow," Potts said. "We're finding ways to be. Everybody wants to sweep, but I like that we had to learn how to win in four. Overall, it was a great team effort."