2023 WAC Volleyball Release Week 3

UT ARLINGTON OFF TO A BLAZING START
UT Arlington did not let its opponents win a set with sweeps over Incarnate Word, Presbyterian and Louisiana Tech. The Mavs, now 6-0, have tied for the third-best program start (2004, 1983, 1981 and 1976) to a season.

BIG BLOCKS EQUALS HIGH RANKINGS  
Stephen F. Austin’s Izabella Ortiz ranks eighth in the nation in blocks per set with 1.68. This past weekend, Ortiz recorded 15 blocks and currently leads the WAC with 37 total blocks.

YOU CAN’T RUN AN OFFENSE WITHOUT PASSING DIMES
Five student-athletes averaged five or more digs per set this week, helping their team run an efficient offense. WAC Libero of the Week Haley Hoang from Stephen F. Austin led the way with 62 digs and 5.64 digs per set. UT Arlington’s Alli Wells had 5.33 digs per set, CBU’s Mia Jerue recorded 5.25 digs per set, while Abilene Christian’s Sara Carrizales and Grand Canyon’s Tatum Thomas tied with 5.00 digs per set.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM RECOGNITIONS
WAC Player of the Week Brianna Ford from UT Arlington earned UTA Classic MVP for her 40 kills, while hitting .305 and 25 digs showing. Stephen F. Austin’s Isabella Ortiz, Tarleton State’s Rajini Fitzmaurice, Utah Tech’s Sydney Reese and Grand Canyon’s Klaire Mitchell all received all-tournament team recognition at their respective tournaments.

GCU GOES TOE TO TOE WITH ARIZONA AND IOWA STATE
Grand Canyon put up a big fight against Arizona and Iowa State, taking both teams to five-set thrillers. Despite losing both matches, key players Tatum Parrott (36 Kills), Klaire Mitchell (83 Assists) and Tatum Thomas (55 Digs) stepped up in big ways.

POTENTIAL TEAMS TO GET WACKED
After Abilene Christian’s big 3-1 win against Texas Tech on Sept. 9, more WAC squads gear up to face off major conference teams. On Sept. 9, Stephen F. Austin travels to Arizona State, California Baptist hosts Oregon State, and ACU travels to California.