2nd sweep wraps up perfect preseason finale

Saturday, September 21

Riverside, Calif.

3 p.m.

Grand Canyon

7-4,0-0WAC

Cal State Fullerton

4-6,0-0Big West

Grand Canyon

Cal St. Fullerton

Photo by: Nathan Peters

9/21/2024 6:56:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

GCU's team effort vs. Fullerton creates momentum ahead of WAC play

By: Nathan Peters

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team completed the Big West/WAC Challenge by following up Friday's sweep with a Saturday sweep, defeating Cal State Fullerton 25-20, 25-22, 25-18.

GCU graduate outside hitter Ashley Lifgren won tournament Most Valuable Player after leading the way Saturday with 13 kills on .414 hitting with eight digs. The Lopes made twice as many blocks (18) as the Titans.

"It feels really good, and I'm just super proud of the level that we played for the entirety of both matches," Lopes head coach Kendra Potts said. "I think both UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton are really great teams, and we took some of their really good pieces away, which is hard to do. I'm very proud of the overall execution of the team."

The Lopes (7-4) jumped out to a 5-2 lead before the Titans went on a run to force a GCU timeout trailing 16-10.

Shortly after, the Lopes found momentum with eight straight points on freshman setter Olivia Price's serve to lead 18-16. GCU went on to win the set on a kill by junior outside hitter Anaelena Ramirez from freshman setter Taylor Kubacak.

Lopes junior opposite Magdalena Juric had four kills on .667 hitting in the first set. The Croatian finished the match with seven kills after having a season-high nine kills Friday against UC Irvine.

"They (Ramirez, Juric and Lifgren) had clean weekends, but today, especially, I liked seeing the patience in their game," Potts said. "All of the things that we've been working through the last four weeks, you saw them come together. I feel really good about how we're able to start conference."

The Lopes trailed by four in the middle of the second set before Lifgren and Ramirez switched the momentum with the help of kills by redshirt freshman outside hitter Emma Wegleitner, who finished the match with career highs for kills (eight) and blocks (three).

"This is the coolest part, 'Wegs' (Wegleitner) is always that spark plug, whether in the practice gym or pregame warmup or whatever else," Potts said. "When a player like 'Wegs' comes off the bench and lights it up the way she does and just plays so free and confident, that's what it's all about. That was so much fun to just see her do her thing today. and I think the whole team just enjoyed it so much."

The Lopes won the second set 25-22 off a Lifgren kill and two Titans errors.

GCU had six service aces for the match with graduate libero Mykenna Nelson and Price each having two.

Back-to-back blocks gave GCU a 10-6 lead in the third set. Wegleitner and freshman middle blocker Aubrey Goodere teamed up for the first with Juric taking a solo on the second.

"I was really proud of our defense today," Potts said. "We got quiet in the back row for a little bit and took a timeout to reset. I thought Mykenna, Bella Anderson, 'Leaf' (Lifgren) and even our setters just lit it up defensively. We were just keeping the ball off the ground and giving ourselves chances to keep the ball in play. "

A Lifgren kill, assisted by Kubacak, set up match point before a Fullerton error sealed the victory.

"For two freshman setters running the offense, I feel like they (Kubacak and Price) are doing a really good job," Potts said. "They're playing very smart, and I'm just really proud of them."

The freshman setters combined for 31 assists in Saturday's match.

The Lopes begin WAC play at home against UT Arlington (10-2) on Thursday before hitting the road to face Seattle U (2-8) on Sept. 28.