Unbeaten weekend in the sand

Saturday, March 3

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Loyola Marymount

Photo by: Gillian Rea

3/3/2018 11:16:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

Lopes down Loyola Marymount to complete sweep of the weekend

By: Fletcher Like

Coming off the team's first win of the season, the beach volleyball team completed a weekend sweep with a 4-1 win over Loyola Marymount (2-1). The Lopes (2-4) fought off the Lions in three duals that went three sets.

"I was really proud of how we competed against a well-coached LMU team," head coach Kristen Rohr said. "We had to face some adversity in dealing with a top player being out of the lineup because of an illness and had some freshmen step up in some spots that we needed to solidify the win."

The match went backwards in pairings with the fifth and fourth pairings opening up the dual.

In the number five pairing match, Emily Reinking and Jamie Walsh opened up a big lead in the first set, 16-10 after back-to-back kills from Walsh before taking the set 21-14. In the second set, the two widened a 12-7 lead with hustle plays and big blocks to win the second set 21-13.

In the number four pairing match, Natalie Honzovicova and Bella Bauman took a closely-contested first set 21-19 using clutch blocks down the stretch of the set to get the win.

In the second set, the score bounced back and forth before LMU took control and went on to win the set 21-12. In the third and decisive set, LMU took an early lead, 3-0 before GCU came back to tie it at 4-4. The score was tied again at 8-8 and stayed close, but LMU took the set 15-13.

The number three pairing match didn't need a third set as Katie Pyles and Jessica Clark took control from beginning to end. In the first set, Pyles and Clark chipped away and continued to add to their lead before taking the set 21-14. In the second set, the narrative remained, quietly and clinically taking care of business, winning the set 21-9.

The number two pairing of Hannah Towne and Taylor Jarzombek needed three sets to decide their match against the Lions. Towne and Jarzombek battled deep in the first set as the set was close from start to finish before falling 24-22. In the second set, Towne and Jarzombek took the lead early and cruised to a 21-15 win. The decisive set was tense and back-and-forth as the score stayed within two points until the end when LMU committed an error to give the Lopes the pairing.

In the number one pairing, Kelli Iverson and Molly Turner needed to go the distance as well to decide their pairing. The unavoidable block of Iverson proved too much for LMU in the first set as the pair paced themselves to a 21-9 first set victory. LMU took control of the second set and didn't relinquish control as the Lions won 21-15. In the third set the Lopes battled and kept themselves alive with long rallies, smart swings and finally used an ace to win it 15-9.

In the exhibition game, Madi Relaz and Katie Sarber won 21-10 and 21-15.

"It was a great night of competition and we got challenged in some spots and stepped up when we needed to and that is exciting to see," Rohr said.

The Lopes return to the Beach Volleyball Stadium March 9 and 10 when they face New Mexico, Abilene Christian and Grossmont.