GCU lead slips away at Chicago State

Thursday, October 6

Chicago, Ill.

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

4-12, 0-4

Chicago State

3-15, 1-3

Grand Canyon

Chicago State

Photo by: Darryl Webb

10/6/2016 7:29:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Mark Oshidari

CHICAGO – The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team led early but fell to Chicago State 24-26, 16-25, 25-20, 25-19, 15-13 on Thursday night.

Jordyn Sanchez had a big night with 20 kills while Katrice Pond added 15 kills. Emily Christensen had an all-around match with 11 kills, eight blocks and a .588 hitting percentage.

"We are struggling to find our identity after some tough injuries," said head coach Tim Nollan. "At times we are capable, but we are just not consistent enough yet."

Heidi Carpenter finished with 50 assists and six digs while Emma Ahern finished with nine digs.

GCU outhit CSU .236 - .147 and the Lopes had 15.5 blocks compared to 10 by CSU.

In the first set, Hannah Hicks recorded a solo block to give GCU a 6-5 edge. Chicago State took a 10-9 lead after a GCU error. CSU took a 14-12 lead before Sanchez sent down a kill to stop the Cougars mini run. Trailing 20-18, Sanchez recorded consecutive kills to pull GCU even at 20-20.

A Powers service ace pushed GCU ahead 22-20. Hicks sent down a kill to give GCU set point leading 24-22. The Cougars battled back to tie it at 24-24 and the Lopes called timeout. Out of the break, Carpenter set up Emily Christensen in the middle with a kill as the Lopes went back ahead. A CSU attack error gave the Lopes the first set 26-24.

Carpenter got things going in the second set with an ace for the first point while the Lopes as a team scored the first three. Sanchez had a kill and a block to give GCU a 9-5 lead and the Cougars called an early timeout. GCU put together a 11-4 run and led 20-9 after a Sanchez block. GCU would cruise to the 25-16 win.

In the third set, CSU scored five of the first seven points. The Cougars extended the lead to 18-12 as the Lopes called timeout. CSU would lead by as many as nine points before GCU rallied to pull within 24-20. CSU would hold off GCU 25-20 and force the fourth set.

The Cougars scored the first four points of the fourth set to put pressure on the Lopes. CSU led 10-5 before GCU rallied to pull within 13-12. After CSU led 20-15, GCU pulled within 22-18 but the Cougars held off the Lopes 25-19.

Christensen got the Lopes on the board in the fifth set with a big kill after the Cougars started by scoring the first three points. CSU led 8-4 as the teams switched sides. GCU trailed 10-5 before a Christensen kill and block pulled GCU within 10-8.

After a CSU timeout, Pond sent down a pair of kills to tie the match at 10-10. A CSU attack error gave GCU its first lead of the fifth set at 11-10. CSU would recorded consecutive service aces to pull ahead 13-11. After a timeout, Pond sent down a kill to pull GCU within 13-12. A GCU attack error gave CSU match-point and the Cougars held off GCU 15-13.

GCU is back in action on Saturday when it takes on UMKC in Kansas City.