No. 1 UT Arlington completed the undefeated conference season and won the 2024 Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament championship over No. 2 Grand Canyon in a dramatic fifth set comeback (20-25, 25-17, 20-25, 25-23, 16-14). With the victory, UT Arlington earned an automatic bid into the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship.

For the second straight game the Mavericks were down to their final match point and on the brink of elimination, as UT Arlington trailed GCU 14-11 in the final set and was behind 2-1 entering the fourth set. However, the Mavericks refused to give in and showed their resiliency to come back and win their first WAC Volleyball Tournament. UT Arlington won its first conference tournament championship since 2002 and will make its ninth all-time appearance in the NCAA Championship.

"A remarkable win," said J.T. Wenger, UT Arlington head volleyball coach. "This team once again had their backs against the wall and they were able to pull it through. So proud of everyone, our fans were electric tonight, and they stayed with us even when we were down. Proud of this team."

The WAC Player of the Year Brianna Ford piled on the 2024 and career accolades by being named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament after recording 25 kills, 16 digs, five blocks, and two aces in the championship match. Ford was joined on the WAC All-Tournament team by freshman outside hitter and WAC Co-Freshman of the Year Sjakkie Donkers, who notched a double-double on the biggest stage with 12 kills and 26 digs. Also on the all-tournament team from UT Arlington was the WAC Setter of the Year Mollie Blank, who posted 56 of the team’s 63 assists in the match, her second highest assist count of the season, along with 13 digs for a double-double. Paige Reagor and Evyn Snook tallied 10-plus kills apiece with 13 and 10, respectively.

The NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship selection show takes place on 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024 on ESPN.