The Southern Utah University women’s volleyball team will continue their homestand this week when they play California Baptist University on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m., followed by the homecoming game against Grand Canyon University on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. Both games can be streamed on ESPN+.
Southern Utah
The Thunderbirds enter this week with a record of 7-8 and 3-1 in conference play, placing them No. 4 in the Western Athletic Conference.
Andrea Spasojevic is a must-watch two-way player for SUU. She is averaging 2.92 kills per set, earning the ninth highest spot in the conference. Additionally, she leads the team in service aces with 13. Spasojevic is also second in digs with 117, and second in blocks with 24.
Other notable offensive players for the Thunderbirds are setter Teniyah Leuluai, who places third in the WAC for assists per set with 8.44. Leuluai reached 1000 career assists against Utah Tech. Finley Charapata has 117 kills this season followed by Victoria Zibecchi, who has earned 115 kills.
Arianna Rossi is a consistent defensive player with a team-leading 171 digs this season, placing her No. 6 in the conference. On the front line, Carissa Richie is No. 7 in the WAC and first on the team with 57 blocks.
California Baptist
The Lancers have a tough season so far with a record of 1-15 and 1-3 in conference play, putting them in eighth place in the WAC.
On offense, Eliana Posada leads the team in kills with 112, Kali Wolf has 105 and Nicole Mauser with 102. The two assist leaders for CBU are Avery Barber with 237 and Reese Reed with 231. Mia Jerue is another standout stat leader with 27 service aces, the second most in the conference.
Jerue also makes her presence felt on the defensive end with a team-leading 169 digs, followed by Wolf who has 115. Up front, Maddison Gilliland leads the team in blocks with 42. Other notable blockers for the Lancers are Posada, Mauser and Laura Walewska.
Grand Canyon
The Lopes are on a three-game winning streak and are second in the WAC and are outscoring their opponents 256-187, winning nine of their last 10 sets.
Tatum Parrott leads the team in kills with 174, and is tied for second in service aces with 14. Anaelena Ramirez has been another great offensive contributor with her 109 kills this season. The Lopes setter Taylor Kubacak is fourth in the WAC in assists, averaging 7.52 per set.
On defense, Trista Strasser has had an incredible season with 79 blocks, which places her second in the conference. Mykenna Nelson is the dig leader for the Lopes with 212, followed by Kubacak with 146.
The Thunderbirds were swept by the Lancers and the Lopes the last time they faced these teams.
Author: Jacob McQueary
Photographer:
Editor: Jack Paul
