Tight win vs. LSU puts GCU in CCSA title match

Friday, April 28

Huntsville, Ala.

10:30 a.m.

Grand Canyon

LSU

4/28/2023 4:36:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

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In their 1st conference tourney, Lopes face LSU-TCU winner for championship Saturday

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Another day, another sandstorming.

A day after upsetting No. 2 TCU, the No. 7 GCU beach volleyball team knocked off No. 7 LSU in the third set of the fifth match to advance to the Coastal Collegiate Athletic Association Championship title match on Saturday.

The Lopes, seeded fourth in the tournament, were tied in the semifinal with the third-seeded Tigers 2-2 when the Court 2 match was fighting out a third set.

GCU sophomore Samaya Morin and junior Allanis Navas shook off a 21-15 loss in the first set to win 21-12 in the second set at John Hunt Sand Volleyball Complex. With the Lopes duo rallying to a 14-12 match point, Navas bumped an assist to Morin, whose hit was too hot for LSU to handle and sent the GCU team into a court celebration for the second day in a row.

GCU (26-6) will play the CCSA title match at 11:30 a.m. (Phoenix time) against the winner of the LSU-TCU match that begins at 8:30 a.m. (Phoenix time). Two courts will stream on the AVP Beach Volleyball YouTube page while the other three courts will stream on the Bally Sports App.

"We just wanted to come in and play our game, play free," Lopes head coach Kristen Rohr said. "We focus a lot on being tough, being a good teammate and giving good effort. If we can focus on those things that are controllables, we'll usually be pretty happy with the outcome — win or loss. These are really big wins for our program. I'm just really proud of how our team came together. We didn't show that we were fazed."

Navas said they were inspired to win for their teammates on the sideline supporting them, and Morin credited having "the best coaching in the nation" to handle a high-pressure situation.

"When we're together, we're unbeatable," said Morin, who is from Lake Stevens, Washington. "We decided that we can do everything in our power to get the job done and control our side. It may seem liike there's a lot of pressure, but when we have all of our teammates and each other, it's like nothing."

GCU got off to a 1-0 lead with sophomore Jessica Drake and graduate Dana Roskic using a dominating start for a 21-7, 21-18 victory on Court 5. After LSU tied the match on Court 4, the Lopes bounced back for a 2-1 lead with graduate Cami Sanchez and senior Anaya Evans grinding out a 21-19, 21-15 victory on Court 3. With the Tigers winning on Court 1 in straight sets, all eyes turned to the deciding match on Court 2 as the only one to reach a third set.

Saturday's champion will be the first team other than Florida State to win the conference tournament since its inception in 2016.

No. 7 GCU 3, No. 6 LSU 2

1. Abbie Hughes/Allison Hansen (GCU) def. Kylie DeBerg/Ellie Shank, 21-16, 21-18
2. Samaya Morin/Allanis Navas (GCU) def. Grace Seits/Parker Bracken, 15-21, 21-12, 15-12
3. Hannah Brister/Reilley Allred (LSU), Cami Sanchez/Anaya Evans, 21-19, 21-15
4. Ella Larkin/Lara Boos (LSU) def. Krista Rowan/Brooke Birch, 21-18, 21-11
5. Dana Roskic/Jessica Drake (GCU) def. Melia Lindner/Amber Haynes, 21-7, 21-18