Lopes End Home Season with 5-0 Sweep

Saturday, March 28

Phoenix, AZ

10 a.m.

Grand Canyon

New Mexico

Britta Forsythe and Chloe Jenkins

Photo by: Darryl Webb

3/28/2015 2:50:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

The Grand Canyon University sand volleyball team (6-4) swept New Mexico (1-4) 5-0 today to wrap up the Lopes' home season.

"It was senior day so we got to recognize some kids that are wrapping up their collegiate career," said head coach Jose Lugo. "We dropped our two pair out and moved everyone up so that all of our seniors could get the opportunity to compete in front of their family and friends.

The team honored five players at the event, including Kaitlynn Ausmus, Alex Goodman, Britta Forsythe, Alex Green, and Megan Glennie.

"They've all worked so hard for this program, so it's just really nice for us to be able to recognize them for their hard work and effort," said Lugo.

For their last home game of the season, GCU earned the win with four two-set matches and a three-game battle on the third court.

"Today the main focus was coming back and regrouping after losing so closely to Nebraska and then yesterday when USC came in here," explained Lugo. "They battled so hard out there yesterday, but USC got the win, so it was idea of getting back to basics."

For their first start of the season, Forsythe teamed up with Chloe Jenkins for the 21-19, 21-18 victory over New Mexico's fifth pair.

"Britta and Chloe played a fantastic match," Lugo said They had a plan and they executed it really well. They stayed aggressive the entire match."

Green and Brooke Razo also earned a strong win on court two.

"I think Alex and Brooke—in the last win of the day—played fantastic," Lugo continued. "I couldn't have asked for anything more from those guys. They were steady; they were calm."

Mackenzie Phelps and Shannon Dugan defeated the Lobos 21-13, 21-12, while Ausmus and Glennie won the long three-game match.

"Shannon and Kenzie had a nice bounce back," Lugo explained. "Kaitlynn and Megan struggled in game two but found a way come back and win the match in three."

"Overall, I think everyone played really well," Lugo concluded. "I couldn't say enough about all of them today. Playing four matches four days in a row isn't the easiest thing in the world, particularly when that last match is in the daytime and it's really warm outside, so the fact that they were all able to keep pushing hard under those circumstances was inspiring."

Grand Canyon will travel to California for a match against Long Beach State on April 10, before competing in their second USAV tournament at Hermosa Beach on April 11. A full recap will be available at www.gculopes.com.

GCU 5, UNM 0

Kenzie Phelps/Shannon Dugan (GCU) def. Hannah Johnson/Ashley Kelsey (UNM) 21-13, 21-12
Alex Green/Brooke Razo (GCU) def. Julia Warren/Eastyn Baleto (UNM) 21-15, 23-21
Kaitlynn Ausmus/Megan Glennie (GCU) def. Devanne Sours/Chloe Crappell (UNM) 21-17, 15-21, 15-10
Becca Conrad/Alex Goodman (GCU) def. Lise Rugland/Ashley Newman (UNM) 21-19, 21-14
Chloe Jenkins/Britta Forsythe (GCU) def. Sami Reynolds/Jackie Baro (UNM) 21-19, 21-18

Order of finish: 4,5,1*,3,2

*Clinched win