Coro: Taller, talented lineup rises

2/22/2019 11:18:00 AM | Beach Volleyball, Paul Coro

Youthful Lopes open season at No. 16 nationally

By: <a href="http://gculopes.com/index.aspx?path=coro">Paul Coro</a>

The Grand Canyon beach volleyball lineup puts freshmen and sophomores in six of the 10 positions.

Four of those 10 Lopes are first-year college beach volleyball players.

The team lost an All-American player, current pro Molly Turner.

And with all that, the 16^th-ranked Lopes figure to be better than ever when they start their season Friday against New Mexico and No. 15 Loyola Marymount and stage the athletic department's first Division I head-to-head matchup with Arizona State at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at GCU Beach Volleyball Stadium.

"This is definitely our most talented team and definitely our tallest," GCU fourth-year head coach Kristen Rohr said. "We're actually able to run some really great defensive systems with having a big block.

"When we go against the top teams, if we can match them from a side-out perspective and pick up a couple balls here and there on defense, we should be able to do some pretty amazing things this year. I'm really excited for the season to start."

Turner's partner from last season, 5-foot-11 junior Hannah Towne, teams with 5-8 freshman Anaya Evans, of England, to form this season's No. 1 pair.

"They mesh well," Rohr said. "Even though Hannah is not a huge block, she's a smart block and is deceptive with what she does. Anaya is a fast defender. She sides out really well. Together, they will make a really good pair."

Evans is a dynamic defender who worked her way up the GCU pair ladder in the fall to join Towne, who learned the pressure of the No. 1 spot last season with one of the nation's best players. Just as Turner led her, Towne now leads Evans.

"Molly made me develop as a player," Towne said. "Coming off that and taking her role is difficult and challenging but also rewarding because I get to help my partner. Developing that teamwork and partnership is really cool."

Senior Mikaela Raudsepp, a transfer who was an all-conference indoor player at Wichita State, teams with sophomore Madi Relaz as the No. 2 duo. At 5-10, Relaz is an example of the Lopes' improved size this season because she has moved from undersized blocker last season to being a defender alongside Raudsepp, who is a 6-2 force at the net.

At No. 3, 5-11 sophomore Bella Bauman and 5-6 junior Jessica Stansfield return after teaming some last season, when GCU finished at No. 18 in the nation.

"They are probably one of our most consistent teams right now," Rohr said. "Bella is a big block and Jess is a great defender. She's probably one of our fastest and picks up the most balls. She's a little undersized so he has to work hard to side out, but she's been doing a really good job with that."

GCU indoor player Esmee Priem, a 5-11 freshman from The Netherlands, also has joined the beach team and will play with 5-9 sophomore Katie Sarber at No. 4.

"They're super scrappy," Rohr said. "Esmee is not a huge block but she has great pole defense. They both side out well so they're a fun team to watch. They're all over the place."

The No. 5 group teams another indoor player, libero standout Teagan DeFalco, with the team's senior leader, 5-10 Jamie Walsh. DeFalco's ball control helps set up Walsh's two-ball specialty.

"I think we have a really special group of girls and a lot of talent," Walsh said. "It's going to be up to us how we execute it and use it out on the court. I'm excited to see where the season takes us."

More freshmen (Ava Elia and Katie Hess) could impact the lineup with their size and athleticism, as well as the defense of sophomores Taylor Jarzombek and Natalie Honzovicova.

"We have so much depth and everyone is constantly fighting to be in the top five," Towne said. "We're pushing each other every day, every practice. Every time, we step on the court it's 110 percent. Everybody loves it here."

The Lopes went 13-16 last season but are expecting improvement after taking half of those losses by a 3-2 score.

"The returners who have been here in the past see the evolution of what we're doing here at the school, and I think they're excited to have some size," Rohr said. "There's always a little bit of nervous energy going into opening weekend, but I think everyone is excited to compete at home."

Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.