GCU powers past Air Force in five sets

Saturday, August 27

Colorado Springs, Colo.

6.30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

2-1

Air Force

2-1

Grand Canyon

Air Force

8/27/2016 9:02:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Mark Oshidari

COLORADO SPRINGS – The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team completed a winning weekend with a 25-19, 18-25, 25-19, 18-25, 15-10 win at Air Force on Saturday afternoon. Earlier in the day, GCU swept Jacksonville State. Natalie Tardy and Heidi Carpenter were named to the All-Tournament Team.

"Very proud of our team and their efforts today," said head coach Tim Nollan. "We bounced back after a tough set-back last night. I can't give enough credit to the staff for coming up with a game plan and helping our team execute it, giving us chances to win."

Tardy led the Lopes with 18 kills and eight digs. Jordyn Sanchez added 15 kills on .333 hitting. Randahl Powers finished with seven kills and five blocks, while Gracie Dimond added six kills with a .556 hitting efficiency.

Michelle Steagall added a double-double with 17 assists and 15 digs, while Carpenter added a team-high 28 assists. Hannah Hicks was tough in the middle with a team-high eight blocks.

The Lopes served up nine aces, led by Tardy with three, while Steagall and Emma Ahern added two apiece.

"We had great performances from a number of players including Natalie Tardy in both matches," said Nollan. "I am most proud though of the growth in mindset and team culture as we build this program."

In the first set, neither team led by more than three points until a Tardy and Dimond block pushed the Lopes up 13-9. GCU would extend the lead to 15-10 at the media timeout after a Sanchez kill and AF ball handling error. A big block by Dimond and Leigh Stonerook pushed GCU ahead 21-14. The Lopes would cruise to the 25-19 first set victory.

In the second set, AF took an early 11-8 lead, forcing the Lopes to use an early timeout. Air Force would continue to pull away and take the second 25-18.

The third set began with the teams going back-and-forth scoring points. With AF ahead 10-9, the Lopes scored four straight to lead 13-10, including a pair of blocks by Hicks and Powers. Air Force would rally to tie the set up at 16-16, but a Hicks kill put GCU back up 17-16. The kill triggered a 5-0 run which included a pair of kills by Dimond to put GCU in position leading 21-16. The Lopes would take the third set 25-19. GCU hit at a .438 clip in set three.

AF scored the first four points of set four to put GCU in an early hole. GCU responded to tie up the set at 7-7 after back-to-back Tardy aces. AF would go back ahead with a run to lead 16-10. The Falcons would continue to hold off the Lopes and force the fifth after a 25-18 win.

After AF scored the first point in the fifth, Carpenter had a big point and service run to put the Lopes up 3-1. Ahern served up an ace to push GCU ahead 6-3 as AF called timeout. The Lopes would lead 8-3 after a Powers kill and another Ahern ace. GCU would keep AF from getting no closer than three points as Powers put away the match at 15-10.

Grand Canyon is back in action next weekend when it hosts the GCU Tournament on Sept. 2-3 in Antelope Gym.