ARLINGTON, Texas – No. 2 Grand Canyon and No. 1 UT Arlington won semifinal matchups on Friday and have advanced to the 2024 WAC Volleyball Tournament championship match. The Lopes and the Mavericks will battle for a WAC title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+ at the College Park Center.
No. 2 Grand Canyon 3, No. 3 Utah Valley 1 | Box Score
No. 2 Grand Canyon will make its second straight appearance in the WAC Volleyball Tournament final after defeating No. 3 Utah Valley (23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-17). The Lopes won the season series against the Wolverines, as UVU finished the season at 20-10.
The Lopes’ offense was powered by the duo of junior outside hitter Tatum Parrott and graduate outside hitter Ashley Lifgren, who accounted for 38 of GCU’s 58 kills. Parrott tallied 22 kills while Lifgren posted 16 kills. Setters Taylor Kubacak and Ava Mason recorded the majority of the Lopes’ assists as Kubacak led the way with 26 assists and Mason registered 20 assists. Senior middle blocker Trista Strasser made her presence known at the net as she recorded seven total blocks on the night. Six different Lopes registered at least six digs against the Wolverines.
Utah Valley was led by WAC Co-Freshman of the Year Sami Blackett who posted 15 kills and nine digs. Sophomore setter Evalyn Chism set 38 of UVU’s 46 total assists and sophomore Lani Matavao tallied the most digs with 18. Junior middle blocker Bella Wooden made more than half of the Wolverine’s total blocks with nine blocks on the night.
No. 1 UT Arlington 3, No. 5 California Baptist 2 | Box Score
The fight for the final spot in the WAC championship did not disappoint as No. 1 UT Arlington took down No. 5 California Baptist in a dramatic five-set showdown (16-25, 25-18, 15-25, 27-25, 15-10). The Mavericks will make their first-ever appearance in the WAC Tournament championship match. After starting the season at 1-19, the Lancers made an impressive late season run to finish the season 7-3 and wrap up the 2024 season at 8-22.
WAC Player of the Year Brianna Ford had a career night with 29 kills and 14 digs for a double-double, one of three Mavericks to post a double-double in the action-filled match. WAC Co-Freshman of the Year Sjakkie Donkers recorded 15 kills and 12 digs, while WAC Setter of the Year Mollie Blank collected 49 assists and 17 digs. Sophomore libero Samantha Glenn went back-to-back 20-plus dig matches with 21 against the Lancers and redshirt sophomore outside hitter Sophie Ocampo tallied a season-high six blocks, including the game-winning block assist on the final rally of the match.
Junior opposite hitter Eliana Posada led the Lancers with 16 kills and posted a season-high .412 hitting percentage (16-2-34). Sophomore opposite hitter Nicole Mauser and graduate outside hitter Kali Wolf both tallied 10 kills. Junior setter Reese Reed notched 22 assists and WAC Libero of the Year Amanda Darling recorded 19 digs and six assists.
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