SFA holds court in 4-set match

Thursday, October 6

Nacogdoches, Texas

4:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

8-7,2-2WAC

Stephen F. Austin

16-2,4-1WAC

Grand Canyon

SFA

Photo by: Adrianna Candelaria

10/6/2022 9:32:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Lopes rally falls short; Lumberjacks win 25-14, 25-22, 16-25, 29-27

By: Adrianna Candelaria

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — The Stephen F. Austin women's volleyball team moved to 16-2 on the season by holding off a Grand Canyon rally for a four-set home victory on Thursday night.

Outside hitters Melanie Brecka and Tatum Parrott led the offense for GCU (8-7, 2-2 WAC), posting .545 hitting and 16 points and .302 hitting and 19 points, respectively. Brecka and Parrott also recorded a combined total of four aces and 28 digs.

After dropping the first two sets, GCU rallied to win the third set and had a set point in the fourth set that would have tied the match. SFA (16-2, 4-1 WAC) won 25-14, 25-22, 16-25, 29-27.

"We were a little slow to start but when we got it going we competed hard," Lopes head coach Tim Nollan said. "I thought our kids played hard in a very difficult environment and it all came down to execution at the end of the match."

The Lopes turned up the heat in the third set, leading the entire third frame after jumping out to a 13-5 lead. The set opened with a 3-1 lead after a kill from Parrott, a freshman, and two by Brecka, a graduate student. A later 5-0 GCU run, including a kill from Parrott and two team blocks, opened the lead to 13-5 on the serve of senior setter Klaire Mitchell.

Between the early 3-0 lead, with a Ladyjacks service error and two aces from Parrott, and another five point run composed of team blocks, a kill from Parrott and Mitchell at the service line. Mitchell assisted on a Brecka kill to give GCU a comfortable set point at 24-15.

The Lopes continued that same momentum into the fourth set, with three of the first four points belonging to Brecka, a graduate student. GCU also posted a six-point run and gained a 13-8 lead over SFA on consecutive Brecka kills. But the Lopes were unable to maintain their ground and found themselves in an uphill battle, trailing 23-21.

The fourth set was a fight to the finish, featuring 11 ties and six lead changes. Late GCU service errors ultimately opened the door for the Ladyjacks to win 29-27.

GCU will travel to UT Arlington (11-5, 3-1 WAC) for a Saturday match at 10 a.m. (Phoenix time).