2024 WAC VB Release Week 1

THE 2024 WAC VOLLEYBALL SEASON STARTS THIS WEEKEND!
The 2024 WAC Volleyball season is set to begin this weekend with a slate of nonconference tournaments. Grand Canyon and Utah Valley will host their tournaments while the rest of the league will hit the road. The weekend will consist of 27 games with key matchups including ACU at Baylor, Oregon State at GCU, and CBU vs Arizona State.
 
GRAND CANYON EDGES OUT UT ARLINGTON AS 2024 WAC VOLLEYBALL FAVORITE
Grand Canyon was selected as the 2024 WAC preseason favorite over UT Arlington by just one point. The defending tournament champions received four first-place votes and 60 points from the league’s nine head coaches, while this year’s tournament host, UT Arlington, earned five first-place first and 59 points. Utah Valley, California Baptist, and Tarleton State round out the top five in the preseason coaches’ poll.
 
PARROTT NAMED THE PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Grand Canyon junior outside hitter Tatum Parrott was tabbed as the 2024 WAC Preseason Player of the Year. Parrott played a big role in the Lopes’ journey to conference tournament champions as she led the WAC with 571.5 points and 490 kills. She also tallied 66 total blocks, 37 service aces, and a .317 hitting percentage. Parrott earned a spot on the 2023 WAC All-Tournament team and the 2023 All-WAC First Team.
 
BLANK CHOSEN FOR PRESEASON SETTER OF THE YEAR
UT Arlington graduate Mollie Blank was voted as the 2024 WAC Preseason Setter of the Year. Last year, Blank recorded a career-high in assists (1,083), digs (223), and blocks (28). She produced double-digit assists in all but one match, including 13 matches with at least 40 assists and three matches with 50+ assists
 
MATAVAO SELECTED AS THE PRESEASON LIBERO OF THE YEAR
Utah Valley sophomore Lani Matavao was chosen as the 2024 Preseason Libero of the Year. Matavao registered 376 digs, 106 assists, and 20 service aces in her freshman year where she was named to the 2023 WAC All-Freshman Team.
 
THE LOPES LOOK FOR REPEAT OF 2023
Grand Canyon took home their first WAC Volleyball Tournament championship last year when they defeated No. 1 seed Stephen F. Austin 3-1. The Lopes went 23-8 overall in 2023 with a 13-3 conference record. Their road to battle for back-to-back titles begins this Friday with a home match against Montana.