Moss totals 10 kills in loss to Aggies

Tuesday, February 16

El Paso, Texas

12:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

4-2,4-2WAC

New Mexico State

6-0,6-0WAC

Grand Canyon

New Mexico St.

2/16/2021 2:03:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Eskes, Murillo each add 9 kills in 3-set road defeat

By: Kellie Reynolds

EL PASO, Texas — The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team looked to bounce back in its second match with New Mexico State. Despite taking the Aggies to extra points in each of the first two sets, the WAC leaders defeated the Lopes 27-25, 26-24, 25-19 at UTEP's Memorial Gym.

"I thought we served better today and competed well, pushing the first two sets but our defense in the end did not do enough to slow them down," Lopes head coach Tim Nollan said. "We will get back in the gym on Thursday and continue to train and prepare. Our goals have not changed. We are trying to play our best volleyball in April."

Junior middle blocker Kaira Moss led the Lopes with a season high of 10 kills and a hitting percentage of .474. Junior outside hitters Hannah Eskes and senior Yeny Murillo each added nine kills for GCU. Sophomore setter Klaire Mitchell tallied 35 assists, six digs and three kills in the three-set match. Freshman defensive specialist Mia Goulart had a team high of two service aces.

The Lopes (4-2, 4-2 WAC) and Aggies (6-0, 6-0 WAC) nearly went point for point in the opening set. Back-to-back aces by Goulart allowed the Lopes to take a 12-7 lead, but New Mexico State responded to close the gap late in the first set. Moss cashed in one of her 10 kills to set up set point at 24-23, but the Aggies managed to hold off the Lopes and force extra plays to take the first set 27-25.

The second set was very similar as the Lopes and Aggies continued to exchange points with neither team ever taking more than a three-point lead. With the Aggies leading 24-22, Moss fought off the first set point by blocking New Mexico State's Savannah Davidson. Murillo followed with a kill off Mitchell's assist to force another extra-point set. The Aggies took the following two points on a kill and an ace for a 2-0 match lead.

GCU came out fighting in the third set and looked like they had momentum when the Lopes took an 11-8 lead off three straight kills from senior opposite Sarah Hagge and freshman outside hitter Giorgia Turri. GCU stretched the lead to 17-13 edge on a Murillo kill and an ace by senior libero K.J. Adams. The Aggies, however, were not willing to go a fourth set, as they scrambled back with nine consecutive points before closing out a 25-19 set in El Paso, where NMSU moved its home games because of state COVID-19 protocols in New Mexico.

GCU returns home for Feb. 22-23 matches against UT Rio Grande Valley in GCU Arena.