Lopes open 2021 season with 2-1 day
(Phoenix, AZ) After 356 days without outside competition, the Grand Canyon beach volleyball team finally took the sand and went 2-1 on Opening Day at GCU Beach Volleyball Stadium.
The No. 7 Lopes fell to No. 17 Arizona 3-2 in the first dual but then bounced back to defeat No. 20 Arizona State 4-1, the Lopes program’s first win against the Sun Devils, and ended with a 5-0 victory against Colorado Mesa.
“It was so great to get back out in the sand and compete,” GCU head coach Kristen Rohr said. “I really loved how we bounced back from our first match loss and took care of business the rest of the day.”
GCU falls to Arizona in tight dual
The season-opening matchup began with freshman Allanis Navas and fifth year Paula Hoffmann earning the first pair win of the season for the Lopes with a two-set victory against Arizona on Court 4 (21-18, 21-14). Sophomore Madi Relaz and freshman Allison Hansen fell 19-21, 15-21 on Court 2.
The Wildcats took a 2-1 lead with a win at No. 1, where sophomore Teagan DeFalco and junior Bella Bauman fell 18-21, 13-21.
The dual was clinched by the Wildcats on Court 5, where the GCU team of junior Katie Sarber and freshman Alyssa Garber lost 17-21, 21-16, 9-15.
Sophomore Anaya Evans and junior Taylor Jarzombek won 15-21, 21-15, 15-10 to make it a one-point dual defeat.
Lopes take down No. 20 ASU 4-1
The Lopes took an early 2-0 lead after wins on Courts 2 and 4. Navas and Hoffmann beat the Sun Devils 21-15, 21-9 at No. 4 and Relaz and Hansen won 21-16, 21-17 at No. 2.
DeFalco and Bauman clinched the dual win over Arizona State at the top flight, 21-10, 21-17.
The only pair loss came on Court 5 after an injury in the first set forced the Lopes to forfeit that match.
Jarzombek and Evans took down the Sun Devils in a thrilling three-set win. After falling 15-21 in the first set 15-21, the GCU duo came back and won 21-15 and 15-10 on Court 3.
Lopes sweep Colorado Mesa
GCU dominated Colorado Mesa with sweeps across the board.
Lopes freshman Krista Rowan made her college debut on Court 2 with Relaz and won 21-12, 21-15. At No. 4, Navas and Hoffmann picked up their third pair win 21-15, 21-9.
At No. 5, Sarber and freshman Alina Randall defeated Colorado Mesa 21-10 in both sets. At No. 3, Jarzombek and Evans won 21-11, 21-14 to claim their third pair win of the day.
The Canyon Classic continues Saturday with an all-day pairs event among the four teams. Play begins at 8 a.m. at GCU Beach Volleyballl Stadium.
