Lopes split matches on Day 1 of Gamecock Challenge

Saturday, March 11

Columbia, S.C.

8:30 A.M.

Grand Canyon

Jacksonville

3/11/2017 2:45:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

By: Lisa Amsler

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The Grand Canyon beach volleyball team started off the first day of the Gamecock Challenge tournament at South Carolina with a 5-0 sweep against Jacksonville, but suffered a set back when they later faced No. 15 South Carolina, falling 4-1.

"We started off the day strong with our win over Jacksonville, but we did not play the kind of volleyball we want to be playing right now," Head Coach Kristen Rohr said. "We have a lot of work to do tomorrow and then heading back into practice next week."

Tjasa Kotnik and Molly Turner continued their winning streak, defeating both No. 1 pairs in just two sets. In the first contest, Kotnik and Turner won 21-17, 21-9 after Rebecca Conrad and Jordyn Sanchez first took down their opponents 22-20, 21-11 on Court 2. Tyanna Roy and Jessica Clark were the only pair to force Jacksonville to three sets, ultimately winning 21-12, 17-21, 15-12. No. 5 pairs Emily Reinking and Kelli Iverson quickly claimed their first set 21-11 before a gritty battle in the second set that ultimately resulted in a 27-25 win for GCU. Hannah Towne and Jessica Stansfield were the fifth and final match point after going all the way up to 23-21 in the first set followed by a much quicker 21-11 victory in the second.

In the second and final match of the day, the No. 2, 3 and 4 pairs were taken down in three close sets. After Conrad and Sanchez lost their sets 21-15, 16-21, 15-5, Reinking and Iverson fought hard for the third set but ultimately fell 15-11 after just barely losing the first 19-21 and rebounding in the second 21-16. Kotnik and Turner earned the Lopes sole match point with a 21-16, 21-14 victory followed by Roy and Clark losing 21-15 in both sets. It was a suspenseful finale as Towne and Sanchez forced their opponents to three sets after dominating 21-13 in the first set. The pair tried to come back in the third set after suffering a tough 21-12 loss, but ended up falling 15-11.

"Every team is getting better every year and South Carolina played fearless volleyball tonight," Rohr added. "They competed every point and we did not quite step up to the challenge. The weekend definitely isn't over though. We have two more matches tomorrow against some good teams so we have to recover from our loss tonight."

GCU 5, Jacksonville 0
1. Tjasa Kotnik/Molly Turner (GCU) def. Mackenzie Swan/Cristina Finan (JU) 21-17, 21-9

2. Rebecca Conrad/Jordyn Sanchez (GCU) def. Morgan Dees/Megan Widener (JU) 22-20, 21-11

3. Hannah Towne/Jessica Stansfield (GCU) def. Shelby Babowicz/Jizzyan Gesualdo (JU) 23-21, 21-12

4. Tyanna Roy/Jessica Clark (GCU) def. Katie Krawczyk/Vanessa Richards (JU) 21-12, 17-21, 15-12

5. Emily Reinking/Kelli Iverson (GCU) def. Hanna McMahon/Natalie Wehner (JU) 21-11, 27-25

Ext. Anna Unnasch/Leigh Stonerook (GCU) def. Tori Reiser/Ashlyne Miller (JU) 21-8, 21-9

GCU 1, South Carolina 4
1. Tjasa Kotnik/Molly Turner (GCU) def. Katie Zimmerman/Katie Smith (SC) 21-16, 21-14

2. Ali Denney/Adrianna Culbert (SC) def. Rebecca Conrad/Jessica Stansfield (GCU) 21-15, 16-21, 15-5

3. Julia Mannisto/Carly Schnieder (SC) def. Hannah Towne/Jordyn Sanchez (GCU) 13-21, 21-12, 15-11

4. Shannon Williams/Macie Tendrich (SC) def. Emily Reinking/Kelli Iverson (GCU) 19-21, 21-16, 15-11

5. Franky Harrison/Jade Vitt (SC) def. Tyanna Roy/Jessica Clark (GCU) 21-15, 21-15

Ext. Hannah Edelman/Caroline Skaff (SC) def. Anna Unnasch/Leigh Stonerook (GCU) 22-20, 21-18