Lopes look to continue hot start

AT A GLANCE

• Freshman setter/opposite Bella Nunez recorded a GCU D1 era record in her collegiate debut with an .800 hitting percentage
• Nunez secured the season’s first Mountain West Freshman of the Week honors
• After the opening weekend, Hayden Goodman leads the country in blocks per set (2.33) with a total of 21 blocks across 9 sets
• Aubrey Goodere is ranked 38th in Division I with a .484 hitting percentage
• The Lopes rank third in the country in blocks, averaging 3.67 per set
• As a team, GCU is holding opponents to an average of .088 hitting percentage, ranking 14th nationally
• The Grand Canyon squad ranks 29th in the country in digs per set with 16.67
• Sophomore setter Taylor Kubacak ranks third in the Mountain West with 0.56 aces per set
• The Lopes crowd on opening weekend ranked fourth in the country with a total of 10,272 fans in attendance

LAST TIME OUT

• Grand Canyon opened the season with three sweep wins at the GCU Invitational, fueled by a new 6-2 system, five new starters, and balanced contributions across the lineup, including standout performances from Bella Nunez, Aubrey Goodere, Sophia Parlanti, Hayden Goodman, Anaelena Ramirez, and Taylor Kubacak.
• The Lopes’ defense and blocking proved dominant, holding Gonzaga to .118 hitting and averaging 3.67 blocks per set, while Ramirez thrived in her move to outside hitter with back-to-back double-digit dig matches and a team-high 12 kills in the finale.
• Nunez emerged as a breakout freshman star with 43 assists, 26 digs, 24 kills, 12 blocks, and two aces over the weekend.

SCOUTING 

• East Texas A&M is 0-3 after opening the season against Providence, Little Rock, North Texas. 
• Washington State has recorded 18 aces, ranking 120th nationally and 6th in the conference. Blazkova also leads with 1.00 blocks per set, a .640 hitting percentage, and 3.20 kills per set. Italia Bernal directs the offense with 5.60 assists per set. Tinons Munar Galmes anchors the defense with 3.40 digs per set.
• Northern Arizona went 2-1 at the Lobo Invitational, defeating Houston Christian (3-0) and Manhattan (3-0) while falling to New Mexico (2-3). Stoddard hit .254 with 43 kills on 114 attempts and 14 errors, while also adding five service aces, three blocks, and 36 digs, including two double-doubles.Wadsworth posted a .354 hitting percentage, averaging 2.18 kills per set and contributing seven blocks across the tournament.

WHAT’S NEXT? 

• The Lopes will head to Nebraska to face Drake (Sep. 12) and the Cornhuskers (Sep. 13) next weekend.