Completed Event: Volleyball versus Utah State on September 27, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 3
Volleyball
vs Utah State
L 0-3
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Friday, August 26
Colorado Springs, Colo.
3 p.m.
Grand Canyon
0-1
2
vs
3
Montana State
1-0
1
2
3
4
5
F
Montana State
23
34
25
18
15
3
Grand Canyon
25
32
20
25
9
2
Photo by: Darryl Webb
GCU rally comes up short in five set thriller
8/26/2016 6:04:00 PM | Volleyball
COLORADO SPRINGS – The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team battled all evening but came up short in a 23-25, 34-32, 25-20, 18-25, 15-9 season opening loss to Montana State at the Air Force Tournament.
"We lost a tough, hard fought match in five," said head coach Tim Nollan. "We had difficulty scoring points which we knew was going to be tough for us. We have a lot of growing and developing to continue to do. We will watch film and prepare for two tough matches tomorrow. For us every match is a chance to learn, grow and develop our team culture and our volleyball."
Leigh Stonerook led the way for the Lopes with a match-high tying 16 kills, adding nine assists, seven digs and four blocks. Natalie Tardy added a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs, while Randahl Powers was also in double-figures with 10 kills.
Emma Ahern added a team-high 26 digs, while Heidi Carpenter finished with 32 assists. Hannah Hicks led the Lopes with seven blocks.
Montana State was led by Eli Svisco with 16 kills while Natalie Passeck added 15 kills.
The five-set thriller featured 40 ties and 17 lead changes combined.
In the first set, GCU was down 22-20 but put together a 5-1 rally to end the set and take the first game. Powers had a kill and the GCU defense forced MSU into a pair of attack error to give the Lopes the 1-0 lead.
In the second set, GCU jumped out to a 20-13 lead after a block by Hicks and Powers, followed by an MSU attack error. MSU would end up taking the long second set at 34-32.
Down 2-1 after MSU took the third 25-20, the Lopes put together a strong fourth set at 25-18.
In the decisive fifth set, the Lopes fell behind 5-1 as the Bobcats took control. GCU showed its fight, taking the lead 6-5 after a big block by Gracie Dimond and Tardy. Following a MSU timeout, the Bobcats ended the match scoring 10 of the final 13 points.
Grand Canyon is back in action tomorrow facing Jacksonville State at 10 AM and Air Force at 6 PM on the Air Force campus.
"We lost a tough, hard fought match in five," said head coach Tim Nollan. "We had difficulty scoring points which we knew was going to be tough for us. We have a lot of growing and developing to continue to do. We will watch film and prepare for two tough matches tomorrow. For us every match is a chance to learn, grow and develop our team culture and our volleyball."
Leigh Stonerook led the way for the Lopes with a match-high tying 16 kills, adding nine assists, seven digs and four blocks. Natalie Tardy added a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs, while Randahl Powers was also in double-figures with 10 kills.
Emma Ahern added a team-high 26 digs, while Heidi Carpenter finished with 32 assists. Hannah Hicks led the Lopes with seven blocks.
Montana State was led by Eli Svisco with 16 kills while Natalie Passeck added 15 kills.
The five-set thriller featured 40 ties and 17 lead changes combined.
In the first set, GCU was down 22-20 but put together a 5-1 rally to end the set and take the first game. Powers had a kill and the GCU defense forced MSU into a pair of attack error to give the Lopes the 1-0 lead.
In the second set, GCU jumped out to a 20-13 lead after a block by Hicks and Powers, followed by an MSU attack error. MSU would end up taking the long second set at 34-32.
Down 2-1 after MSU took the third 25-20, the Lopes put together a strong fourth set at 25-18.
In the decisive fifth set, the Lopes fell behind 5-1 as the Bobcats took control. GCU showed its fight, taking the lead 6-5 after a big block by Gracie Dimond and Tardy. Following a MSU timeout, the Bobcats ended the match scoring 10 of the final 13 points.
Grand Canyon is back in action tomorrow facing Jacksonville State at 10 AM and Air Force at 6 PM on the Air Force campus.
Team Stats
MSU
GCU
Kills
75
55
Errors
34
22
Attempts
209
181
Hitting %
.196
.182
Points
93.0
70.0
Assists
70
52
Aces
9
4
Blocks
9.0
11.0
Game Leaders
Kills
16
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
L
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballS
/ VolleyballOH
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