GCU falls in four sets to UTRGV

Thursday, September 29

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

4-10, 0-2WAC

UT Rio Grande Valley

12-5, 3-0WAC

UTRGV

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Darryl Webb

9/29/2016 8:33:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Mark Oshidari

PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team suffered a tough loss to the UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros with set scores of 25-19, 25-17, 24-26, 25-12 on Thursday night.

"I liked the way we competed in the third set, to have the moxie and steal one," said head coach Tim Nollan. "It shows promising things for the future."

Jordyn Sanchez and Katrice Pond led the Lopes with a combined 22 kills while Heidi Carpenter racked up 19 assists. Sara Westerman led with 13 digs, closely followed by Michelle Steagall and Katrice Pond with eight. Sanchez finished with 12 kills while Pond added 10 kills and hit at a .692 clip.

After trailing for a majority of the first set, the Lopes got off to a slow start and were unable to make a comeback. The Vaqueros outhit the Lopes .222-.032 for a 25-19 victory.

The Lopes got off to an early 7-3 lead in the second set, but things quickly turned around in favor of the Vaqueros. After narrowing the gap with a series of four points in a row, GCU couldn't maintain the momentum, allowing UTRGV to pull ahead and steal the second set with a 25-17 victory.

In the third set, the Lopes proved they were not going down without a fight, coming from behind to take the winning point on a number of longstanding rallies. After pulling ahead 20-18, the Lopes went back and forth with the Vaqueros for the closest set of the night, ending in a well-deserved victory for GCU of 26-24, their first set win of the night.

Despite coming off the previous set victory, the Lopes fell short in the fourth set and final set with a score of 25-12.

"We need to play more consistent," said Nollan. "We were good at different phases and at different times. At times we've scored well, but we need to be more consistent… put pressure on opponents."

The Lopes hope to bounce back this Saturday, October 1 when they host New Mexico State at 1 p.m. in Antelope Gym.