Lopes have tough day in Malibu

Wednesday, April 5

Malibu, Calif.

2:00 P.M.

Grand Canyon

Pepperdine

4/5/2017 6:16:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

By: Imani Suber

MALBU, Calif. --- The Grand Canyon beach volleyball program suffered a pair of losses to ranked opponents No.2 Pepperdine and No.5 Long Beach State Wednesday.

GCU fell in a 4-1 decision to Pepperdine and suffered the sweep against LBSU at 5-0.

How it Happened

Match 1 | GCU 1 Pepperdine 4
In the first match of the day, GCU suffered a loss to No. 2 Pepperdine.

Tjasa Kotnik and Molly Turner were able to overcome a tough Wave attack and claim the lone point for GCU after winning the third set at 21-18, 19-21, 15-11. Jessica Stansfield and Rebecca Conrad were not far behind their teammates, almost topping Pepperdine after forcing the third set, but just missed after falling in the final set.

The remaining pairs went down in two-set finishes as Pepperdine's height and speed proved too much for the Lopes to overcome.

Match 2 | GCU 0 LBSU 5
In the final contest of the day, GCU looked to bounce back after the morning outcome. However, the Beach came out in attack mode and gave the Lopes all they could handle.

While most of the Lopes went down in two-sets, it was Jessica Clark and Kelli Iverson who almost upset LBSU. GCU came out hot snatching the first set at 21-17, but the Beach quickly bounced back taking the second set to force the third at 15-21. GCU's No.4 pairing came just shy of the victory in the 13-15 outcome and suffered a disheartening defeat.

Up Next
The Lopes return to the beach courts on Friday, Apr. 14-15 for a road tourney at Florida State. GCU will meet Florida International and Stetson on Friday, Apr. 14 at 5:30 a.m. MST and 8:30. GCU will square off against Florida State on Saturday, April 15 at 5:30 a.m.

Results
FINAL | No. 2 Pepperdine 4, Grand Canyon 1
No. 1: Tjasa Kotnik/Molly Turner (GCU) def. Delaney Knudsen/Madalyn Roh (PEPP) – 21-18, 19-21, 15-11
No. 2: Corinne Quiggle/Brittany Howard (PEPP) def. Hannah Towne/Jordyn Sanchez (GCU) – 21-14, 21-16
No. 3: Skylar Caputo/Heidi Dyer (PEPP) def. Jessica Stansfield/Rebecca Conrad (GCU) – 13-21, 21-17, 15-6
No. 4: Deahna Kraft/Anika Wilson (PEPP) def. Jessica Clark/Kelli Iverson (GCU) – 21-14, 28-26
No. 5: Nikki Lyons/Gigi Hernandez (PEPP) def. Tyanna Roy/Emily Reinking (GCU) – 21-17, 21-16

FINAL | No. 5 Long Beach State 5, Grand Canyon 0
No. 1: Rachel Nieto/Nele Barber (LBSU) def. Tjasa Kotnik/Molly Turner (GCU) – 21-11, 21-15
No. 2: Kobi Pekich/Sasha Karelov (LBSU) def, Hannah Towne/Jordyn Sanchez (GCU) – 21-15, 21-16
No. 3: Hailey Harward/Anete Brinke (LBSU) def. Jessica Stanfield/Becca Conrad (GCU) – 21-12, 21-19
No. 4: Morea Wagner/Heather Weiss (LBSU) def. Jessica Clark/Kelly Iverson (GCU) – 17-21, 21-15, 15-13
No. 5: Jenelle Hudson/Megan Kruidhof (LBSU) def. Tyanna Roy/Emily Reinking (GCU) – 21-16, 23-21