Lopes edged by Aggies

Thursday, November 8

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

11-14, 4-9 wac

New Mexico State

19-7, 9-4 wac

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
New Mexico State	25	25	25	25	3
Grand Canyon	20	21	27	20	1

11/8/2018 8:36:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

GCU falls at home in 4 sets to NMSU

By: Mark Oshidari

The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team came up short in its comeback bid, falling to New Mexico State 25-20, 25-21, 25-27, 25-20 on Thursday night in GCU Arena.

The loss dropped GCU to 11-14 overall and 4-9 in WAC play while NMSU improved to 19-7 and 9-4.

GCU was led by freshman outside hitter Kayla Matthews with 15 kills and seven digs. Junior outside hitter Melody Horton tallied her fourth double-double in the past five matches with 12 kills and 10 digs. Redshirt freshman middle blocker Kaira Moss added 11 kills, while junior middle blocker Maria Adams added eight kills with a .615 hitting efficiency.

Lopes sophomore libero Teagan DeFalco recorded a match-high 17 digs and sophomore setter Molly Feldmeth led GCU with 42 assists.

The Aggies were led by Julianna Salanoa with 13 kills and a school-record .722 hitting efficiency. Megan Hart had 14 kills while Savannah Davison added 13 kills.

While GCU had only three attack errors in the first set, NMSU hit at a .424 clip. GCU trailed only 17-13, but NMSU did not let the Lopes get any closer in the 25-20 win.

NMSU led only 18-16 after a Horton kill in the second set, but the Aggies held off GCU the rest of the way to win 25-21 and take a 2-0 match lead.

The Lopes trailed early in the third set but consecutive aces by DeFalco pushed GCU ahead 15-13 at the media timeout. The Lopes led 24-22, but the Aggies scored three consecutive points to set up their match point. GCU recorded the final three points to win 27-25 and force the fourth set, with the last two points coming on blocks from Feldmeth and Adams.

GCU was within striking distance in the fourth set, trailing 17-15 after a Horton ace. The Lopes pulled within 21-18 after a Feldmeth and Moss block but NMSU scored four of the next six points to close the match with a 25-20 set.

GCU is back in action on Saturday at CSU Bakersfield.