2024 WAC VB Release Week 2

UT ARLINGTON AND UTAH VALLEY SWEEP THE OPENING WEEKEND
The Mavericks and Wolverines started off the season on full throttle as they both went 3-0 in their opening tournaments. UT Arlington won all three of their matches in the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic with straight set sweeps. This is the first time since 1988 that the Mavericks have opened the season with three-consecutive sweeps. Utah Valley won their matches against Eastern Washington, Kansas City, and CSU Bakersfield on their home court in the Utah Valley Invitational.
 
GRAND CANYON SETS HOME ATTENDANCE RECORD
This past Friday was a memorable home-opener for the Lopes as they set a new attendance record in the Global Credit Union Arena for a volleyball match with their 3-0 win against Montana. New players, a new head coach in Kendra Potts, and students back on campus led to an electric crowd of 7,152 Havocs cheering on the Lopes to a dominant victory.
 
TOURNAMENT MVPS
Utah Valley’s Avery Shewell and Utah Tech’s Kennedi Knudsen were named the All-Tournament MVPs of their respective tournaments. Shewell was named the Utah Valley Invitational MVP after recording 40 kills, a .386 hitting percentage, 17 digs, nine blocks, seven aces, and six assists. Knudsen was named the Weber State Invitational MVP for tallying 43 kills, a .275 hitting percentage, 18 digs, six blocks, and two assists.
 
EARLY STRONG OFFENSIVE ATTACKS
Grand Canyon’s Tatum Parrott, UT Arlington’s Brianna Ford, and Utah Valley’s Avery Shewell have shown their powerful offensive presence early on as the three lead the statistics of hitting percentage (min. 75 TA), kills per set, and points per set. Parrott leads in kills per set (4.92) and points per set (5.38), while Ford leads in hitting percentage (.395).
 
MAJOR CONFERENCE MATCHUPS FOR WEEK TWO
Grand Canyon and California Baptist will have some tough battles in the upcoming week as the Lopes take on #12 Oregon and the Lancers will travel to Iowa.