Lopes take 1st road match in 5 sets

Friday, September 6

Fort Collins, Colo.

3 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-1,0-0WAC

Central Arkansas

1-3,0-0ASUN

Grand Canyon

Central Ark.

Photo by: Nathan Peters

9/6/2024 8:51:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

GCU's Parrott starts 3-match weekend with 23 kills, 7 block assists, 8 digs, 3 aces

By: Nathan Peters

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team claimed a five-set victory Friday night in its first road match of the season against Central Arkansas.

The Lopes (3-1) learned how to get it done in the clutch with a large reason being junior outside hitter Tatum Parrott.

"Tatum's performance from start to finish was consistent," GCU head coach Kendra Potts said. "It says a lot about the type of player she is, to continue being as effective and efficient in the first and second set, as she was in the fourth and fifth. She found a way to have an answer and adjustment when Central Arkansas tried to adjust to her."

Parrott had eight first-set kills on her way to a 23-kill night with a .323 hitting percentage.

Aside from the Preseason WAC Player of the Year, the Lopes struggled to find a rhythm in the opening set and fell 25-22.

The second set was a different story. The Lopes found service pressure, accruing three service aces to even the match with a 25-20 set win.

The third set went to the Sugar Bears 25-23 despite a late run from the Lopes, who trailed 21-16 before a 4-0 run that started with two kills by freshman middle blocker Aubrey Goodere.

GCU found consistency offensively in the fourth set, when the team used two kills from junior outside hitter Anaelena Ramirez to fuel an 11-1 run on freshman Taylor Kubacak's and Parrott's serves. With a 21-11 lead, the Lopes closed out the set 25-17 to even the match again at 2-2.

The Lopes came out strong in the fifth, carrying over momentum from the impressive fourth set.

"Anaelena Ramirez came in big with some early blocks to allow us to have a strong start, which is something we are working on," Potts said of the fifth set. "Tatum's block allowed us to slow down their backside offense, which was huge late in the match."

Parrott had seven block assists for the match with Ramirez notching two of her five in the final set.

At the side switch, GCU led 8-4 on an ace from junior middle blocker Trista Strasser, who also led the team with eight blocks. From that point, the Lopes did not look back, winning the match-deciding set 15-12 fitting on a Parrott kill off Kuback's 39th assist.

"Finding a way to win in five sets early in the season is something we can build on as we keep preparing for conference play," Potts said. "There are definitely areas we need to continue growing, However, finding a way to win while working through things is what it's all about."

The Lopes take on No. 12 Oregon on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (Phoenix time). Oregon defeated Colorado State 3-1 following GCU's match Friday.