PHOENIX, Ariz. - Upping its winning-streak to six, the Pacific volleyball program ousted the tournament host Grand Canyon 3-1 (26-24, 25-19, 14-25, 26-24) in the final match of the GCU Classic at the Global Credit Arena.

The Tigers (7-2) have posted back-to-back undefeated weekends after winning both the GCU Classic and the College of Charleston Classic. Pacific's six match winning-streak is the third longest since returning to the WCC in 2014 and ties a similar mark that was met in 2022.
 
Junior middle blocker Emily Van Groningen carried her sensational weekend into the tournament finale, going for 14 kills, one ace and two blocks. Her two solo blocks tied a season high for the junior as she moved to 31.0 total blocks on the year. On the offensive end, Van Groningen led the team with a .243 hitting percentage on 20 or greater attacks.
 
Once more, graduate outside hitter Alexa Edwards paced both teams in kills, leading the way with 15 on the afternoon. She picked up her sixth double-double this season in digs and kills, posting 16 digs through four sets. Edwards, now with 156 total kills after collecting 47 kills on the weekend, moved into first in the West Coast Conference in kills per set with 4.22.
 
Junior libero Jayhlin Swain went for a season high 22 digs while tying a season high three aces to lead all Tigers. Pacific racked up five aces, while ensuring that the Lopes couldn't land one. Swain also matched a career high six assists. The libero now ranks second in the WCC in digs per set (4.08).
 
Senior setter Jenna Heller led both teams with 41 assists, while picking up an ace, 10 digs and two kills. The setter extended her double-double streak in assists and digs to six after Sunday's win over GCU. Heller's 9.08 assists per set rank her fourth in the conference as she brought her season total up to 336.
 
Pacific opened the set erasing an early deficit before going in a back-and-forth with the Lopes. Facing set point down 24-22, the Tigers rattled off four points, capitalizing on GCU errors and a kill from Van Groningen.
 
The offense roared to life in the second set after a slow start. Pacific led by as many as six to best GCU 24-19. Senior opposite Abby Miller put the match away with a kill. She ended with 10 kills on the day, nearly tying a career high.
 
The Tigers overcame a third set slump after low offense production coupled with multiple Tiger errors led to the Lopes clinching the set. Pacific rebounded in the final set going for 17 kills to Grand Canyon's nine. The Tigers were bolstered by a 7-0 scoring streak in the fourth to quickly extinguish GCU's push for a fifth set. They ended on a 5-1 streak, with all five kills being accredited to Edwards.
 
As a unit, the Tigers put up 58 kills, five aces, and 53 assists to GCU's 37 kills and 35 assists.
 
The Tigers travel for their final non-conference tournament next weekend, journeying to Fresno for the Central Cal Challenge. The tournament features CSU Bakersfield, Sacramento State and host Fresno State. In last season's iteration of the tournament, the Tigers swept the weekend 3-0 at home. Pacific faces Fresno State first on Friday, September 20 at 6 p.m.
 
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