Regular season ends with GCU-best 26 wins

Sunday, April 24

Stanford, Calif.

9 a.m.

Grand Canyon

Washington

Photo by: Sierra Smith

4/24/2022 5:11:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

GCU goes undefeated in Stanford Invitational, moves to 26-6

By: Sierra Smith

PALO ALTO, Calif. – The No. 7 Grand Canyon beach volleyball team took down Washington 5-0 and No. 8 Stanford 4-1 to finish the Stanford Invitational undefeated at 4-0.

The Lopes concluded the regular season with a program-best 26 wins and look to continue making history by qualifying for the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships in Gulf Shores, Alabama for the first time.

No. 7 GCU vs. Washington

The Lopes defeated Washington for the second time this season with a 5-0 sweep on Sunday. On Court 2, sophomores Allison Hansen and Allanis Navas won in straight sets to give GCU the early lead. Junior Abbie Hughes and sophomore Krista Rowan battled it out on Court 4, coming out with the three-set victory to bring the score to 2-0. When an injury occurred on Court 1, it forced Washington to forfeit that match, which clinched the dual for the Lopes. Fifth year Madi Relaz and senior Cami Sanchez dominated in the 5s to move the score to 4-0. On Court 3, fifth year Teagan DeFalco and freshman Samaya Morin won in straight sets to secure the sweep over the Huskies.

1. Anaya Evans/Jess Vastine (GCU) def. Natalie Robinson/Chloe Loreen (UW) 21-10, 21-0 (injury forfeit during first set)
2. Allison Hansen/Allanis Navas (GCU) def. Paloman Bowman/Scarlett Dahl (UW) 21-14, 21-18
3. Teagan DeFalco/Samaya Morin (GCU) def. Audra Wilmes/Maeve Griffin (UW) 21-12, 22-20
4. Abbie Hughes/Krista Rowan (GCU) def. Ashley Shook/Hannah Yerex (UW) 18-21, 21-8, 15-10
5. Madi Relaz/Cami Sanchez (GCU) def. Kyra Peterson/Olivia Mikkelsen (UW) 21-8, 21-9

No. 7 GCU vs. No. 8 Stanford

In the second meeting of the season between the Lopes and Cardinal, GCU came out on top again with a 4-1 victory on Stanford's home court. The dual began with a solid win in straight sets on Court 2 by Hansen and Navas. The sophomore duo moved to 28-3 as a pair. GCU's Hughes and Rowan extended the Lopes' score to 2-0 after winning 21-16 in both sets against Stanford's 4s pair. The Court 5 win from seniors Dana Roskic and Sanchez moved the score to 3-0, clinching the dual win for GCU. Stanford's No. 1 pair won the three-set battle to earn its only court win of the day. DeFalco and Morin moved to 21-8 on the season as a pair on Court 3 after winning in three sets. The pair fought back from an 8-2 deficit in the third set to win 15-12 and make the final score 4-1.

1. Xolani Hodel/Kate Reilly (STAN) def. Jess Vastine/Anaya Evans (GCU) 21-10, 14-21, 13-15
2. Allison Hansen/Allanis Navas (GCU) def. Charlie Ekstrom/Maddi Kriz (STAN) 21-14, 21-13
3. Teagan DeFalco/Samaya Morin (GCU) def. Emmy Sharp/Taylor Wilson (STAN) 21-14, 17-21, 15-12
4. Abbie Hughes/Krista Rowan (GCU) def. Maddie Dailey/Maya Harvey (STAN) 21-16, 21-16
5. Dana Roskic/Cami Sanchez (GCU) def. Emma Morris/Jordan McKinney (STAN) 21-15, 25-23

The Selection Show will be on Saturday, April 30, time TBA.