ARLINGTON, Texas — Grand Canyon lost in three sets to WAC-leading UT Arlington in a Thursday evening conference match.
The Lopes (12-6, 5-2 WAC) came into the match on a five-match win streak, but the Mavericks (17-2, 7-0 WAC) extended their winning streak to eight with a 25-11, 25-21, 25-22 victory to sweep the season series.
The match started fast for UT Arlington despite a first-point block from GCU senior middle blocker Trista Strasser. Following the opening point, the Mavericks went on an 11-0 run to take a commanding lead. The set concluded with a 25-11 victory for the undefeated home team.
Strasser concluded the match with four total blocks, reaching 201 GCU career blocks in 1 1/2 seasons to already be fifth on the Lopes’ Division I-era career block leaders list.
GCU graduate setter Ava Mason set season highs with 11 assists, six digs and two service aces in the 6-2 offense. Mason’s second ace came in the second set.
GCU finished the night with five service aces.
The Mavericks prevailed with a second-set victory 25-21, but the Lopes played tighter and had cut the lead to 22-20 with a kill by GCU junior outside hitter Tatum Parrott and a Mavericks error.
The third set saw the Lopes go on an 8-3 run to lead 17-12. The run included a block and kill from junior opposite Magdalena Juric. The Lopes also found success from GCU sophomore outside Ellie Freywho landed six kills on 14 swings with two kills coming during the third-set push.
Despite UT Arlington fighting back, GCU still led 21-19 off a Parrott kill and UT Arlington error. Parrott finished with 11 kills and two blocks.
The match was tied at 22-22 on another Parrott kill, but the Mavericks scored the final three points on kills, two of which were part of graduate outside hitter Brianna Ford’s match-high 19 kills. UT Arlington hit .337 for the match after hitting .333 in the teams’ first matchup, giving the Mavericks two of the Lopes’ top three opponent hitting percentages.
The Lopes return home to face Tarleton State on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Antelope Gymnasium before playing at No.13 Arizona State on Monday in Tempe.
