Fourth set surge lifts Lopes to win at Syracuse

Friday, August 25

Syracuse, N.Y.

3:00 P.M.

Grand Canyon

1-0

Syracuse

1-1

Grand Canyon

Syracuse

Photo by: Darryl Webb

8/25/2017 5:54:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Mark Oshidari

SYRACUSE – The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team opened 2017 with a road win at Syracuse 25-16, 27-29, 25-23, 25-22 on Saturday evening in New York. GCU had several standouts in the victory, led by a pair of freshmen with double-doubles.

"I am proud of the way our team competed tonight," said head coach Tim Nollan. "After losing a tough second set by two points, we responded well out of the break. The fourth set however, was especially satisfying with 15 kills in 31 attempts and only one hitting error. It was a great learning experience for our young kids. And Claire Kovensky giving us 18 points, that is pretty special."

Freshman Claire Kovensky had 18 kills (.326 hitting) and 14 digs while fellow freshman Teagan DeFalco added 14 kills and 16 digs.

Randahl Powers led the GCU seniors with 14 kills, including the match clincher in the fourth set.

Maria Adams finished with seven kills, hitting at a .500 clip while Emma Ahern led all players with 31 digs. Heidi Carpenter had 31 assists while Kayla Redfield finished with 20 assists.

Syracuse was led by Santita Ebangwese with 13 kills.

Powers started off the match with a kill to give GCU a confident start. GCU would build the lead to 8-4 after a kill by DeFalco. Syracuse would burn the first timeout of the match with the Lopes leading 12-8 after a Powers kill. Out of the timeout, it was the Lopes who came out firing, scoring three straight capped by a Hannah Hicks kill to push the lead to 15-8. After Syracuse came within five points, GCU forced the Orange to call their final timeout with GCU up 19-12. The Lopes would cruise to the 25-16 win. DeFalco led GCU with six kills at the Lopes hit .304 in the set.

GCU scored five of the first seven points of the second set to gain the upper hand. Syracuse had its first extended run of the match, going on a 6-1 run to lead 8-6. Tied up at 15-15, the Orange scored a pair of points as GCU called a timeout. GCU got its first block of the year by Hicks and DeFalco, pulling GCU even at 18-18. A 'Cuse error made it three straight points for the Lopes and a 19-18 lead. With GCU down 22-19, the Lopes rallied to tie set at 22-22 after a Kovensky kill. Tied at 23-23, the Lopes forced a GCU error to serve for set point. Syracuse would hold off a pair of set point attempts by the Lopes and cap the 29-27 set two win.

A Hicks and Powers block started off the third set. GCU scored five of the first six points to lead 5-1 after a DeFalco ace. Down 12-10, GCU scored four straight capped by a Carpenter ace to lead 14-12. Syracuse would take a 20-19 lead to force GCU to call timeout. With the score tied at 23-23, DeFalco served up a big ace to give GCU a shot at set point. Hicks would sent down the set 3 winner, 25-23.

GCU took a 12-9 lead after consecutive kills by Powers, Kovensky and Powers again. A Kovensky kill pushed GCU ahead 17-14 before Syracuse scored three straight to tie it at 17-17. After the Orange took the lead, GCU came back to lead 21-19 after consecutive Orange errors. GCU would go to its senior for the final kill of the match as Powers sent down the match winner, 25-22.

GCU is back in action on Saturday with a two match day. The Lopes take on Siena at 9:30 AM, followed by a second-match against Niagara at 2:30 PM.