GCU downs ASU, falls to No. 18 Stanford

Thursday, March 25

Phoenix, Ariz.

9 a.m.

Grand Canyon

Arizona State

3/25/2021 5:02:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

Senior Day against Utah honors 7 Lopes on Friday

By: Sierra Smith

The No. 8 Grand Canyon beach volleyball team split Thursday's action with a 4-1 win over Arizona State and a 3-2 loss against No. 18 Stanford at GCU Beach Volleyball Stadium.

Lopes down Arizona State

The Lopes got off to a hot start with sophomore Madi Relaz and freshman Allison Hansen winning 21-11, 21-19 on Court 2. Senior Taylor Jarzombek and graduate transfer Paula Hoffmann earned their first pair win on Court 4, 21-15, 21-16.

GCU senior pair Katie Sarber and Natalie Honzovicova clinched the dual on Court 5 after a 21-16 win in the first set and a dominant 21-5 win in the second set.

The Lopes led 4-0 after freshman Allanis Navas and sophomore Anaya Evans won 21-11, 21-14 on Court 3.

The only pair loss against the Sun Devils came on Court 1 with sophomore Teagan DeFalco and senior Bella Bauman falling in a three-set battle, 17-21, 21-12, 10-15.

No. 18 Stanford edges GCU

Stanford got the first win of the dual on Court 2 with Bauman and Navas falling 16-21, 21-23.

The Lopes tied the dual after Evans and Sarber took down the No. 4 Cardinal pair 21-14, 17-21, 15-9.

The Cardinal regained the lead after DeFalco and Hansen lost 23-25, 13-21 on Court 1.

A thrilling 21-18, 22-20 win on Court 5 for GCU freshman Alyssa Garber and Jarzombek brought the dual back to a 2-2 tie.

The dual came down to the wire with Hoffmann and Relaz on Court 3, where Stanford came out on top by winning both sets 21-18.

Up next, the Lopes will honor seven players on Friday for Senior Day right before the 3 p.m. dual against Utah. The seniors include Bella Bauman, Paula Hoffmann, Natalie Honzovicova, Taylor Jarzombek, Katie Sarber, Justine Spann and Alyssa Vortouni.