Lopes edged in 5 in Seattle

Thursday, November 15

Seattle, Wash.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

11-15, 4-15WAC

Seattle U

10-18, 3-12WAC

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Grand Canyon	20	25	22	25	12	2
Seattle University	25	23	25	18	15	3

11/15/2018 9:30:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Mark Oshidari

SEATTLE – The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team battled Seattle U in a lengthy match but fell to the Redhawks 25-20, 23-25, 25-22, 18-25, 15-12 on Thursday night.

With the loss, GCU drops to 11-16 (4-11 WAC) while Seattle improves to 10-18 (3-12 WAC). Entering the final conference match of the season, GCU leads Seattle and Chicago State by one game. The Lopes play at Utah Valley while Seattle hosts CSU Bakersfield. Chicago State finishes regular-season play at New Mexico State.

GCU was in position to win after a strong fourth set and led 12-9 in the fifth. With key blocks, the Redhawks scored the match's final six points.

GCU was led by a pair of freshmen. Kaira Moss led GCU with 14 kills and six blocks. Esmee Priem had a huge match off the bench with nine kills (.320 attack percentage) and 20 digs.

As a team, the Lopes served 11 aces, with four coming from sophomore setter Molly Feldmeth, who added 50 assists and six digs.

Sophomore libero Teagan DeFalco recorded a match-high 27 digs and two aces.

The Redhawks scored the first seven points of the match. A kill by freshman middle blocker Annabelle Kubinski put the Lopes on the board. GCU pulled within 13-9 after a Moss kill. A kill by freshman outside hitter Kayla Matthews got the Lopes within 14-12. Seattle responded with four straight points to lead by six. GCU could not get closer than four points the rest of the set, dropping it 25-20.

Seattle took a 5-1 lead in the early part of the second set. GCU pulled within 13-11 after a Feldmeth kill. GCU pulled even at 18-18 after a kill by Moss. Senior outside hitter Tressa Schuler served a timely ace to give GCU its first lead of the set at 21-20. The Lopes called again on Moss to close out the set and she delivered her ninth kill for a 25-23 set win.

An early service run by Priem put the Lopes ahead 7-4 in the third set. GCU led 15-10 at the media timeout but Seattle rallied to a 20-20 tie after a block and kill. After a Horton kill gave GCU a 21-20 lead, the Redhawks scored five of the final six points to take the set 25-22.

GCU scored six of the first seven points of the fourth set and led 15-10 at the media timeout after a block by Moss. After Seattle pulled within 16-14, GCU scored five straight points for a commanding 21-14 lead and won 25-18. The Lopes hit at a .303 clip to force the fifth set.

In the fifth set, DeFalco served up GCU's ninth ace for a 6-6 tie. Feldmeth served her 10th and 11th aces to push GCU ahead 9-7. Priem sent down a big kill to give GCU a 12-9 lead but Seattle stormed back with a pair of blocks and the final six points.

GCU is back in action on Saturday at Utah Valley.