Match One
Gonzaga (3-0) vs. Grand Canyon (3-0)
Sept. 6 | 6 p.m. | Spokane, Wash. | Charlotte Y. Martin Centre
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Match Two
Gonzaga (3-0) vs. Ball State (1-2)
Sept. 7 | 11 a.m. | Spokane, Wash. | Charlotte Y. Martin Centre
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Match Three
Gonzaga (3-0) vs. Montana (0-3)
Sept. 7 | 6 p.m. | Spokane, Wash. | Charlotte Y. Martin Centre
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SERIES NOTES
vs. Grand Canyon: Gonzaga leads the overall series 3-0, and Friday's matchup will be the first meeting between the two programs since 2017. The Bulldogs swept the 'Lopes 3-0 in the last meeting on Sept. 9, 2017 in Phoenix.
vs. Ball State: Saturday's match will be the first between the two programs.
vs. Montana:  The Griz lead the overall series 25-15, but Gonzaga has won four of the last six meetings. The Griz defeated the Bulldogs in five sets in the last meeting on Sept. 1, 2018 in Missoula, Mont.
 
SCOUTING THE 'LOPES:
Grand Canyon finished the previous season 11-17 it is off to a perfect 3-0 start this season. The Lopes 12 letter winners and all six starters (plus libero) from last season's squad that finished 11-17 overall with a 4-12 mark in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The 'Lopes return last season's leaders in kills and blocks in sophomore middle blocker Kaira Moss, hitting percentage in sophomore middle blocker Annabelle Kubinski and digs in junior libero Teagan DeFalco. Grand Canyon was picked to finish seventh in the WAC this season. In their first tournament, the 'Lopes went undefeated earning wins against New Mexico, Rutgers and Northern Colorado. GCU averaged 11.86 kills per set hitting .233 to go along with 14.86 digs per set and 2.29 blocks per set. Junior outside hitter Yeny Murillo led the attack with 3.36 kills per set hitting .225 while Klaire Mitchell added 8.71 assists per set. Defensively, the 'Lopes were led by Melody Horton with 3.89 digs per set while Moss adds 1.07 blocks per set.
 
ROSTER BREAKDOWN ON THE CARDINALS:
Ball State lost seven seniors from its back-to-back Mid-American Conference (MAC) West Division Championships, but return two First Team All-MAC selections in seniors Amber Seaman and Sydnee VanBeek. The program is hot off a 22-10 overall record in 2018 with a 12-4 league mark and a berth to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC), the first postseason appearance since 2011. So far this season, Ball State carries a 1-2 record with a sweep of UAB, a five-set loss to USF and a three-set loss at No. 18 Purdue. The Cardinals average 12.64 kills per set hitting .178 to go along with 11.82 digs per set and 1.36 blocks per set. Natalie Mitchem leads the attack with a team-high 3.64 kills per set hitting .202 while Kate Avila adds 3.18 digs per set.
 
SCOUTING MONTANA:
The Griz are 0-3 on the year after having been swept in each of their first three matches. Montana returns three letter winners and two starters plus a libero from last season's squad that finished 10-21 overall with a 7-11 mark in Big Sky play. This season, the Griz were picked to finish ninth is this year's Big Sky Preseason Poll. In its first three matches, Montana averaged 8.11 kills per set hitting .137 to go along with 9.89 digs per set and 1.78 blocks per set. Janna Grimsrud leads the offensive attack with 2.22 kills per set hitting .208 while Sarina Moreno leads the defense with 2.89 digs per set.
 
FIRST TOURNEY RECAP
In their best start since 2016, the Bulldogs are an undefeated 3-0 on the season so far. Gonzaga swept both UConn and Air Force and bested Navy in four sets to win the Service Academy Challenge opening weekend in Arlington, Va. Junior outside hitter Sarah Penner led the attack with 4.40 kills per set hitting .311 while senior setter Jenna Kuehn finished with 8.50 assists per set, helping the Zags to a .262 hitting percentage on the weekend. Junior outside hitter Chapin Gray added 3.56 kills per set hitting a team-leading .419 while freshman libero Alisa Kim led the team in digs in her official debut, finishing with 38 digs on the weekend for a 3.80 digs per set average. As a squad, the Bulldogs averaged 12.20 kills per set, 12.10 digs per set and 1.30 blocks per set to go along with 3.60 aces per set.