Split day includes handing UTEP its 1st loss

Friday, September 10

Portland, Ore.

10:30 a.m.

Grand Canyon

7-0,0-0WAC

UTEP

-61,00 CUSA

Grand Canyon

UTEP

9/10/2021 1:09:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Wise leads 4-set win with career-best 22 kills; GCU falls in 5-set nightcap

By: Kellie Reynolds

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team handed UTEP its first loss of the season at the Portland State Tournament before dropping its second Friday match to the host in five sets.

The Lopes (7-1) opened the day by downing the Miners (6-1) in four sets — 25-23, 25-22, 21-25 and 25-18. GCU freshman outside hitter McKenzie Wise recorded a career and match high with 22 kills while junior middle blocker Annabelle Kubinski totaled nine kills with an impressive hitting percentage of .818.

The match's opening went back and forth until the middle of the first set. Trailing 13-11, Lopes sophomore setter Ava Mason found Wise on the outside for back-to-back kills to even the score. GCU took the first set after three straight Kubinski kills from Mason.

The Lopes started the second set with a service ace from libero Teagan DeFalco. However, UTEP made a four-point run before the Lopes responded with a five-point run to take an 8-6 lead. The rally started with a kill from sophomore outside Ashley Lifgren and continued with a service ace from freshman Katherine Schmitt. GCU went on a four-point run late in the set to increase its lead to 23-19 on two kills from Wise and a service ace from Mason. The Lopes took the second set and a 2-0 match lead after an attacking error by the Miners.

The Miners fought back by opening the third set with three straight points. The teams volleyed on the scoreboard until UTEP went on a seven-point run to take a 20-13 lead. GCU managed to string together a four-point run, highlighted by a kill and two blocks from Wise to reduce the Miners lead to 23-19. The Lopes fought off two UTEP set points but the Miners closed out the set to cut GCU's match lead to 2-1.

Continuing the trend of the match, the Lopes and Miners were back and forth to start the final set. The Lopes took a 15-9 lead after back-to-back kills from Lifgren and junior middle blocker Hannah Eskes. Mason found Lifgren for her 12th kill of the match to put GCU two points away from a match win. Sophomore Mia Goulart followed with a service ace to put the Lopes at match point. The Miners managed to spoil the three-point run but Mason found Lifgren again to give GCU a four-set win.

Lopes undefeated streak ended by the Vikings

Eskes' solo block and kill helped spot GCU to a 3-0 start in its second match of the day against tournament host Portland State. GCU went on a five-point run in the middle of the first set to take an 18-10 lead. Mason found sophomore outside hitter Giorgia Turri to take the first set.

In the second set, the Vikings were on a seven-point run before Mason found Kubiniski in the middle to slow Portland State. Sophomore opposite hitter Hope Hanak-Harper followed with a solo block to cut the Vikings lead to 15-7, but Portland State managed to string together a few more runs and even up the match score at one set each.

The Vikings got out to a 6-3 lead to start the third set. For most of the third set, Portland State was able to keep the Lopes at a distance. GCU managed to string together back-to-back points with the Vikings at set point, making it 24-20 before Portland State closed out the set for a 2-1 match edge.

With their backs against the wall, the Lopes took a two-point lead to open the fourth set. GCU scored three consecutive points with two kills from Lifgren for a 12-11 lead. With the score tied at 17, the Lopes' four-point run started with a kill from Hanak-Harper. GCU closed out the fourth set with a kill from junior middle blocker Kailey Trapp to even the match at 2-2.

GCU took the first point of the final set of the match with a kill from Hanak-Harper, but the Vikings used multiple two-point runs to keep a comfortable lead. PSU closed out the match with three straight points for a 15-10 set.

The Lopes are back in action on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. against Portland.