Lopes go undefeated at Syracuse Tournament

Saturday, August 26

Syracuse, N.Y.

2:30 P.M.

Grand Canyon

3-0

Niagara

0-3

Grand Canyon

Niagara

Photo by: Darryl Webb

8/26/2017 4:31:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Mark Oshidari

SYRACUSE – The Grand Canyon women's volleyball completed the Syracuse Tournament with a 3-0 mark after defeating Niagara 21-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-13 on Saturday evening in New York.

"Tonight was a good win for our program," said head coach Tim Nollan. "We didn't start very well in the first set but we did not let that determine how we finished. We focused on our execution and got better with each set, ending the match playing our brand of volleyball."

As was the case with each match over the two-day tournament, the Lopes got stronger as the match went on. For the first time this season, the Lopes dropped the opening set and had to rebound to win a tough second set to swing the momentum.

GCU was led by Claire Kovensky with 16 kills and 19 digs, while Randahl Powers added 14 kills on .270 hitting. Teagan DeFalco joined Kovensky with a double-double with 12 kills and 17 digs, adding three aces.

"Claire and Teagan had double-doubles, while Natalie had eight kills on 17 swings," continued Nollan. "We will travel home tomorrow and get back to work on Monday, trying to get better and prepare for Friday."

Natalie Tardy also had a strong match with eight kills and a .353 attack percentage.

Heidi Carpenter had 27 assists and 12 digs, while Kayla Redfield added 25 assists and seven digs.

Emma Ahern finished with 17 digs.

GCU scored the first three points of the match on an ace by Carpenter, a kill by Powers and a block by Hicks. NU went on a run to take a 13-9 lead before Tressa Schuler came in to end the Purple Eagles run with a kill. After a timeout, the Lopes rallied to tie up the set at 15-15 after a pair of Kovensky kills and another by Powers. Tied at 19-19, NU scored three straight to put pressure on GCU as the Lopes called timeout down 22-19. GCU would pull within two points on a pair of occasions, but NU pulled out the 25-21 first set win.

In set two, GCU scored seven of the first nine points after an Adams kill. NU would tie up the set at 12-12 after a four point service run. After surrendering the lead, GCU would score four straight points after a DeFalco ace to lead 16-13. Kovensky got the Lopes the first to 20 and a 20-17 lead after an ace, forcing NU to call timeout. GCU would go on to pull away for the 25-20 win after a Powers kill.

Kovensky gave GCU its first lead of the third set at 11-10 after a kill. The Lopes would make it seven straight points and lead 15-10 after a block by Adams. GCU would go on to lead by nine points at 23-14 after a Schuler ace. The Lopes took the set 25-15.

With the Lopes leading 7-6, GCU scored five straight points with Tardy being involved in three of the points to take a 12-6 advantage. DeFalco would later record two kills with a Schuler ace added in and GCU built an 18-8 lead. GCU upped the lead to 21-9 and closed out the match with a 25-13 victory.

GCU is back in action at the Arizona Cactus Classic on Sept. 1-2 in Tucson. The Lopes face Radford and Arizona on Friday. The Lopes take on Eastern Kentucky on Saturday.