Williams' record 30 kills power GCU past UNLV in 5

Saturday, October 10

Phoenix, Ariz.

4 p.m.

Grand Canyon

8-9,2-4Mountain West

UNLV

6-11,2-4Mountain West

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
UNLV	25	22	15	25	8	2
Grand Canyon	21	25	25	23	15	3

Photo by: Josh Fricke

10/10/2026 10:01:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Lopes avenge Thursday match in front of 2,403 fans on Faith and Family Day

By: Nathan Peters

Grand Canyon volleyball rode a record-setting performance from fifth-year opposite hitter Starr Williams to a five-set Mountain West victory over UNLV on Saturday, winning 21-25, 25-22, 25-15, 23-25, 15-8 at Global Credit Union Arena.

Playing in front of 2,403 fans on Faith and Family Day, the Lopes improved to 8-9 overall and 2-4 in Mountain West play while avenging Thursday night's three-set loss at UNLV.

Williams delivered one of the top offensive performances of GCU's Division I era, putting down 30 kills with only six errors on 62 swings for a .387 hitting percentage. Her 30 kills established a new GCU Division I-era single-match record for a five-set match, moving ahead of Tatum Parrott's 29 kills against Utah Valley in 2024.

GCU finished with 69 kills and hit .211 for the match while holding UNLV (6-11, 2-4 MW) to .162 hitting. The Lopes also finished with 78 digs, 13 more than the Rebels.

"Our girls wants to win and get the outcome so badly that I think we forget that we can just play the point that we're in," Lopes head coach Kendra Pott said. "Be present. Don't think too far in the past. Don't get ahead of yourself. And I thought they applied that really well when things were going our way and also when things didn't go our way. I think our bounce-back was solid. Earning trust wtih yourself is the biggest key, and they did that tonight."

The opening set went back and forth early before UNLV created separation late. The teams were tied nine times through a 13-13 score before the Rebels moved ahead 16-13 and stretched the margin to 22-17.

Williams helped GCU make a late push, and senior outside hitter Katie Schulz brought the Lopes within 24-21 before UNLV closed the set 25-21. GCU hit .178 in the opener while the Rebels hit .379.

Williams immediately helped set the tone for the response, recording three kills among GCU's first four points of the second set.

Neither team could create much distance as the set reached a 19-19 tie. Williams then helped GCU gain separation during a 5-1 stretch that gave the Lopes a 24-20 advantage. After UNLV scored twice, Schulz finished the 25-22 win with a kill to even the match.

GCU took control in the third. With the Lopes leading 9-8, freshman outside hitter Gentry Oblad went to the service line and helped spark a four-point run that included consecutive Williams kills. GCU continued building its advantage and turned a 15-13 lead into a 24-15 cushion before sophomore setter Bella Nunez finished the set with a kill.

The Lopes held UNLV to .059 hitting in the 25-15 victory while hitting .263 to take a 2-1 match lead.

UNLV prevented GCU from closing the match in four sets despite the Lopes leading for much of the fourth set.

GCU used a four-point run to take a 7-4 advantage and later led 14-10. The Rebels gradually worked their way back and pulled even at 18-18.

Williams twice answered UNLV points with kills to tie the set at 20-20 and 21-21. GCU pulled even once more at 22-22, but UNLV scored three of the final four points to force a deciding set with a 25-23 win.

After GCU scored the first two points, UNLV answered with three straight to take its only fifth-set lead at 3-2. Williams responded with consecutive kills as the Lopes scored four straight to move ahead 6-3.

UNLV cut the margin to 6-5, but GCU took command from there. Nunez and Williams delivered kills to make it 8-5 at the changeover, and the Lopes stretched their lead to 12-6 behind consecutive kills from freshman outside hitter Milica Zigic.

Zigic continued the finishing surge with kills for GCU's 13th and 14th points before delivering the match-ending kill for the 15-8 victory.

Zigic finished with a career-high 14 kills, giving GCU a second double-digit attacker alongside Williams.

Nunez recorded nine kills, 27 assists and a team-high 17 digs, while junior setter Taylor Kubacak posted 29 assists and 16 digs. Freshman defensive specialist Nika Županic added 12 digs, and Oblad finished with 10.

Freshman middle blocker Kaela Jenkins added six kills on .267 hitting, while sophomore middle blocker Aubrey Bellus finished with four kills.

Williams' 30-kill performance highlighted a night in which GCU responded to Thursday's road loss by holding UNLV below .180 hitting in each of the final four sets, including .069 in the decisive fifth.

In honor of Faith and Family Day, Williams led a post-match prayer to the crowd, saying "We are blessed to showcase your love through the sport you gave us the ability to play. As well as the people you put in our lives to support us. I pray safe travels for everyone and pray your guidance in all of our lives and in Jesus name we pray, amen."

The Lopes will head to Air Force this week for a Thursday-Friday series in Colorado.