Lopes ride momentum in win over Colonels

Friday, September 2

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-1

Eastern Kentucky

0-4

Eastern Kentucky

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Darryl Webb

9/2/2016 9:53:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Mark Oshidari

PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team won its home opener over Eastern Kentucky 25-23, 21-25, 25-14, 25-22 in front of 1,159 fans on Friday night at Antelope Gym.

With the win, GCU improves to 3-1 and continues day two of the GCU Tournament on Saturday facing Eastern Washington and Cal State Fullerton.

"I think that a win is good for our program," said head coach Tim Nollan. "It is good for our student-athletes being back home in Antelope Gym, playing in front of our home crowd… I think we might have been a little nervous and running with some emotion to start. We wanted to perform and show up for our fans. We were a little high aired in the first two sets than we usually are. We responded very well after the break. Give credit to Eastern Kentucky for rallying back in the fourth and putting up a good fight to the end. Not only that, Tardy scored 18 points for us in attacking and Sanchez had another 13 to really help us."

Natalie Tardy led the way with a match-high 18 kills, adding seven digs, three blocks and two aces.

"It was really a great feeling, getting the win," said Tardy. "You can see the culture that we have built as a team. You can tell that we are competing as a team instead of as individuals. We bounced back after our loss in Set 2 and after the break we just came back a whole new team. I think everyone saw that with our blocks and our hits."

Jordyn Sanchez added 13 kills and nine digs. Randahl Powers chipped in with seven kills and three digs.

Heidi Carpenter had 26 assists and Emma Ahern added 13 digs. Chloe Jenkins was also in double figures with 10 digs.

The Lopes improved to 4-0 in first sets this season, claiming the first set 25-23. The Lopes found themselves down 21-17, but GCU rallied to score eight of the final 10 points, the last by a Melody Horton kill to give GCU the upper hand.

Set two saw EKU jump out to a 10-4 advantage. The Lopes pulled within 22-20, but EKU held off the rally and took the set 25-21 to even the match.

The third set was all GCU as the Lopes hit at a .474 clip, while holding the Colonels to a -.059 percentage. GCU had five blocks in the set and Tardy had four of her kills as GCU won the third 25-14.

The fourth set was close throughout but GCU held off each EKU rally. Leading 17-16, GCU scored four of the next five points to open up a 20-17 lead after a kill by Sanchez. EKU pulled within 22-21, but Tardy sent down a kill after an EKU error to push GCU up 24-21. Carpenter found Powers on the outside for the final kill and match at 25-22 GCU, sending the GCU fans into a frenzy.

"Honestly, we thought tonight would have been soccer's crowd and we would have the crowd tomorrow night but it was a great surprise having a lot of great fans here," said Tardy. "There was a lot of energy, it was a great feeling in Antelope Gym."

GCU is back in action against Eastern Washington at 10 AM in Antelope Gym on Saturday. The Lopes face Cal State Fullerton at 7 PM.