No. 12 GCU opens new facility with two victories

Friday, March 3

Phoenix, Ariz.

7:00 P.M.

Grand Canyon

Colorado Mesa

3/3/2017 10:17:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

Photo Gallery Results Page

By: Imani Suber

PHOENIX - The Grand Canyon beach volleyball team opened the new GCU Beach Volleyball Stadium with a pair of victories over New Mexico and Colorado Mesa in front of an electric crowd of 1,308 fans on Friday night.

"We've been waiting on this night since the beginning of January," head coach Kristen Rhor said. "To be able to open up in the new stadium was amazing. The girls are a part of history because this is a brand new stadium, and we're showing the direction that we want to take the program."

The Lopes rose to the occasion, taking advantage of the energy as they downed New Mexico 4-1 picking up their first win of the year.

With her new partner Molly Turner and Tjasa Kotnik opened the year with a bang in GCU's No. 1 spot taking down New Mexico's duo in two sets by scores of 21-11, 21-14.

"We came out with a little nerves playing in front of a crowd like this," Rohr added. "I knew New Mexico was a big team. There's a lot of indoor girls, so they have a lot of size, so we knew that we had to come in right away and play aggressive and be on our game."

Jessica Clark and Hannah Towne, Emily Reinking and Kelli Iverson, and Jessica Stansfield and Tyanna Roy all delivered victories for GCU.

Rebecca Conrad and Jordyn Sanchez were the lone pair that fell, battling in three sets and suffering the loss in the third.

GCU started its second contest of the day with as much energy as the first, applying stout defense en route to its second win in a 5-0 finish against Colorado Mesa. The Lopes applied the pressure as no pair was forced to three set matches.

GCU's No.1 pair Turner and Kotnik made quick work of the Mavericks taking care of business in a two set finish at 21-12, 21-14. Sanchez and Conrad followed through picking up their first victory of the season at 22-20, 20-17.

Also picking up wins for the Lopes were the teams of Clark and Towne, Reinking and Iverson. Stansfield and Roy rounded out the sweep with the victory.

The Lopes continue tournament play tomorrow with three games. GCU plays TCU at 9 a.m., Loyola Marymount at 11 a.m. and Hawai'i at 6 p.m. with all games occurring in the main stadium at the GCU Beach Volleyball Stadium.

Grand Canyon's results are below. For results from throughout the tournament, go to the tournament home page.

Results

GCU 4, UNM 1
Molly Turner / Tjasa Kotnik (GCU) def. Cassie House / Ashley Kelsey (UNM)
21-11, 21-14
Devanne Sours / Lise Rugland (UNM) def. Rebecca Conrad / Jordyn Sanchez (GCU)
21-17, 20-22, 15-10
Jessica Clark / Hannah Towne (GCU) def. Eastyn Baleto / Marisa Doran (UNM)
21-15, 21-19
Emily Reinking / Kelli Iverson (GCU) def. Julia Warren / Lauren Twitty (UNM)
21-16, 21-14
Jessica Stansfield / Tyanna Roy (GCU) def. Jackie Baro / Carly Beddingfield (UNM)
21-8, 21-14

GCU 5, CMU 0
Molly Turner / Tjasa Kotnik (GCU) def. Taylor Woods / Abby Ney (CMU)
21-12, 21-14
Rebecca Conrad / Jordyn Sanchez (GCU) def. Erin Perez /Megan Gianinetti (CMU)
22-20, 21-17
Jessica Clark / Hannah Towne (GCU) def. MacKenzie Edwards/ Hattie Gianinetti (CMU)
21-14, 21-18
Emily Reinking / Kelli Iverson (GCU) def. Hana Peterman / Katie Scherr (CMU)
21-8, 21-10
Jessica Stansfield / Tyanna Roy (GCU) def. Kricket Adleman /Racheal Moralez (CMU)
21-7, 21-13