Beach Volleyball Heads to California

PHOENIX -- The Grand Canyon beach volleyball team will be traveling to Huntington Beach this weekend to play in their first fall competition, competing against top ranked colleges and kicking off their 2015-16 season.

The Lopes are under new direction this year with the hiring of head coach Kristen Rohr. Rohr had been competing professionally in beach volleyball since May 2007, ranking as high as fifth in the country. She began her career with the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) and has spent the last two years as a member of the National Volleyball League tour. Joining her staff are volunteer assistant Joe Rohr and second-year assistant coach Kelli Dallmann.

"The girls have been working hard in the weight room and on the courts at practice," Rohr said. "They have dedicated a lot of time and energy learning a new system and we love what we have been seeing out of this team so far. We are excited for them to compete at a high level this weekend."

The squad will be led once again by the returning All-American pair of Mackenzie Phelps and Shannon Dugan. Phelps and Dugan advanced to the Final Four of 2015 AVCA Pairs Championship last spring before falling to Loyal Marymount in the semifinal. The pair compiled a 16-7 regular season record with a 5-2 record in postseason play.

Other featuring parings for this weekend's competition include: sophomore Molly Turner playing with redshirt senior Ola Wachowicz, who comes to the Lopes from St. Johns University, seniors Brooke Razo and Becca Conrad, sophomore Emilee Erichsen and senior Chloe Jenkins, and finally senior Kami Dickerson playing with junior Mia Sakasegawa.

Players Mentioned

Rebecca Conrad

Kami Dickerson

Shannon Dugan

Emilee Erichsen

Chloe Jenkins

Mackenzie Phelps

Brooke Razo

Mia Sakasegawa

Molly Turner

Aleksandra Wachowicz

Grand Canyon University Athletics