Big rally helps Lopes win in Tucson

Saturday, September 2

Tucson, Ariz.

11:00 A.M.

Grand Canyon

4-2

Eastern Kentucky

2-5

Eastern Kentucky

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Chris Hook

9/2/2017 1:31:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Mark Oshidari

TUCSON – The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team found themselves down two sets but never gave in, building momentum to capture the 17-25, 22-25, 25-18, 25-14, 15-12 win over Eastern Kentucky in the consolation championship of the Cactus Classic.

Maria Adams and Hannah Hicks proved to be strong in the middle, combining for 19 kills (.410) and 12 blocks.

Claire Kovensky led GCU with 15 kills and 26 digs, while Teagan DeFalco added 11 kills and 23 digs. Adams finished with 14 kills, while Randahl Powers finished with nine kills.

"I am very proud of our team today," said head coach Tim Nollan. "We started the match very slowly and went down 0-2. Then in the third we dug deep and started to control the match with our serving and passing. We got very nice contributions from Kobie Dunn and Maria Adams. Maria was over .500 kill percentage which is a goal we have and Kobie served tough and played great defense."

Hannah Hicks had a team-high nine blocks, adding five kills. Heidi Carpenter finished with a double-double of 25 assists and 10 digs.

Emma Ahern and Kobie Dunn finished with 11 digs apiece. Kayla Redfield added 23 assists and four digs.

In the first set, GCU pulled within 13-12, but the Colonels scored nine of the next 10 points to lead 22-13. EKU won the first set 25-17 as GCU was held under a .100 hitting percentage.

In the second set the Lopes were down six but a block by Hannah Hicks and Sarah Hagge pulled GCU within 21-18. A DeFalco kill pulled GCU within 22-20, with a Hicks and Tardy block getting the Lopes within 23-22, forcing the Colonels to use their final timeout. EKU would score the final two points of the set to win 25-22.

In the third set, an ace by Kobie Dunn pushed GCU ahead 11-7, forcing EKU to use an early timeout. Kovensky found an opening for a kill to increase the GCU lead to 18-11. GCU would lead by as many as 10 points in the set before closing out the 25-18 win.

Back-to-back kills by Kovensky and DeFalco put GCU up 7-5 in the fourth set. GCU took a four point lead at 12-8 after a block by Powers and Hicks. GCU would just continue to pull away and win the set easily at 25-14. The Lopes held the Colonels to a negative hitting percentage in the set.

In the fifth set, EKU had the first mini run, scoring three straight to take a 6-4 lead. GCU would come right back and tie it at 6-6 after kills by Adams and Kovensky. EKU was the first to eight, taking an 8-6 lead as the teams exchanged sides.

In a key play, Ahern made a great save off the EKU block and DeFalco was able to send down the first of a pair of kills to tie it at 8-8. GCU retook the lead 9-8 after a Hicks and Hagge block. With the score tied at 10-10, Powers had a pair of kills to give GCU the 12-10 advantage. EKU would score two straight and tie it at 12-12, but a block by
Powers and Hicks put GCU up 13-12, and an Adams kill would finish off three straight points for the 15-12 GCU win.

GCU is back in action next week, hosting the GCU Tournament on Sept. 8-9. The Lopes will be joined by Fordham, Gonzaga and Idaho.