GCU goes 2-0 on Sunday, defeating Cal and South Carolina

Sunday, March 6

Phoenix, Ariz.

8 a.m.

Grand Canyon

California

GCU goes 2-0 on Sunday, defeating Cal and South Carolina

3/6/2016 3:06:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

By: Steven Gonzalez

PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon beach volleyball team wrapped up a five-match homestand to open up the 2016 season with two early matches against California and South Carolina. The Lopes ended the day with a perfect 2-0 record starting with a 3-2 win over the Golden Bears and a 4-1 victory over the Gamecocks. GCU is now 4-1 this season.

"It was great to bring in multiple teams because it shows where we are as a team," head coach Kristen Rohr said. "Our goal is to be peaking at the end of the year and I liked what I saw from our girls to start the season."

On Saturday, March 5, the Lopes found themselves in a tight battle with Florida State and came out on the losing end with a 3-2 loss but Rohr and her staff regrouped and learned from the loss. GCU learned from that loss and against California they found themselves in another 3-2 match, but this time GCU was able to come out on top.

The Mackenzie Phelps and Shannon Dugan duo capped off a 5-0 weekend with an impressive performance against California to start the day. The duo started out with its most dominant set this year taking the first set 21-8 over Sarah Cole and Mia Merino and to close out the match on court one, Phelps and Dugan defeated California 21-12 to close out the match.

Kami Dickerson and Jordyn Sanchez performed well on court four to pull out a gritty victory over Rachel Wilson and Teya Neff. Dickerson and Sanchez found themselves in a battle in the first set but the duo was able to pull out a 23-21 victory and in the second set GCU left no shot of a comeback, taking down California 21-11 for the victory. The final victory came from Rebecca Conrad and Chloe Jenkins from the Lopes on court five defeating the Golden Bears' Katie Regalia and Emily Shults 21-15, 23-21.

"We are in day three of this weekend and I am sure there is a lot of fatigue setting in but it is testing us mentally," Rohr said. "California is a good team and this win will boost our confidence. I am like what I am seeing from the girls to start out the season."

To close out the day GCU was impressive all across the board, pulling out four victories on courts one, two, four and five. Phelps and Dugan capped off a 2-0 day with a 21-12, 21-18 victory over Julia Mannisto and Shannon Williams. Molly Turner and Aleksandra Wachowicz picked up a victory on court two with the 21-12, 21-16 win over Sarah Blomgren & Aubrey Ezell. On court four Dickerson and Sanchez defeated South Carolina's Erin Neunfeldt and Delaney Wood 22-20, 21-15 and on court five Conrad and Jenkins went 2-0 on the day as well with a 21-17, 19-21, 15-8 victory.

GCU 3, CAL 2

Mackenzie Phelps/Shannon Dugan (GCU) def. Sarah Cole/Mia Merino (CAL) 21-8, 21-12
Kory Lamet/Bryce Bark (CAL) def. Molly Turner/Aleksandra Wachowicz (GCU) 21-17, 21-19
Grace Campbell/Olivia Rodberg (CAL) def. Brooke Razo/Emilee Erichsen (GCU) 19-21, 21-11, 15-10
Kami Dickerson/Jordyn Sanchez (GCU) def. Rachel Wilson/Teya Neff (CAL) 23-21, 21-11
Rebecca Conrad/Chloe Jenkins (GCU) def. Katie Regalia/Emily Shults (CAL) 21-15, 23-21

Exhibition: Sammy Furlan/Andie O'Donnell (CAL) def. Mia Sakasegawa/Kelli Iverson (GCU) 21-13, 21-9

GCU 4, SC 1

Mackenzie Phelps/Shannon Dugan (GCU) def. Julia Mannisto/Shannon Williams (SC) 21-12, 21-18
Molly Turner/Aleksandra Wachowicz (GCU) def. Sarah Blomgren/Aubrey Ezell (SC) 21-12, 21-16
Katie Reilly/Macie Tendrich (SC) def. Emilee Erichsen/Brooke Razo (GCU) 20-21, 21-19, 17-15
Kami Dickerson/Jordyn Sanchez (GCU) def. Erin Neunfeldt/Delaney Wood (SC) 22-20, 21-15
Rebecca Conrad/Chloe Jenkins (GCU) def. Katie McCormick/Jade Vitt (SC) 21-17, 19-21, 15-8