TCU avenges GCU early-round win for CCSA title

Saturday, April 29

Huntsville, Ala.

11:30 a.m.

Grand Canyon

TCU

4/29/2023 1:38:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

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Horned Frogs flipped Lopes' 3-0 result of Thursday to claim conference tourney title

By: Paul Coro

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Grand Canyon beach volleyball team did only what UCLA had done this season in beating TCU on Thursday, but the Lopes could not repeat the feat Saturday in the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association Championship title match.

After losing to GCU, TCU worked its way back to the tournament title match through the loser's bracket but only needed to beat the Lopes once to claim the title. The Horned Frogs, ranked No. 2 in the nation at 35-2, reversed the 3-0 loss they took from the Lopes on Thursday by winning 3-0 in Saturday's championship match at John Hunt Sand Volleyball Complex.

With the conference tournament win, the Horned Frogs receive the CCSA's automatic qualifying berth for next weekend's NCAA tournament in Gulf Shores, Alabama. However, the Lopes strengthened their already-strong case for an at-large bid. Entering the tournament at No. 7 in the nation, GCU (26-7) went 3-1 in the tournament with 3-0 wins against No. 16 South Carolina and No. 2 TCU and a 3-2 victory against No. 6 LSU.

The NCAA Selection Show will reveal the 16-team tournament field on Sunday at 8 a.m. (Phoenix time) on NCAA.com. There are eight at-large bids available.

TCU needed a 4-1 morning win against No. 6 LSU to reach the title match against GCU, which it defeated with straight-set victories on Courts 3, 4 and 5. The Lopes' teams on the two courts were leading their matches when the Frogs clinched, with junior Allison Hansen and senior Abbie Hughes winning their first set 21-19 on Court 1 and sophomore Samaya Morin and junior Allanis Navas starting with a 23-21 first-set victory on Court 2.

But the Horned Frogs flipped results on Courts 3 and 5 from Thursday's match in tightly contested duels. GCU graduate Cami Sanchez and senior Anaya Evans were edged 22-20, 21-18 on Court 3 by TCU's Sutton MacTavish and Hailey Hamlett while Lopes sophomore Jessica Drake and graduate Dana Roski fell 21-14, 21-19 on Court 5 to TCU's Rochelle Scott and Hailey Brockett. The Horned Frogs picked up their other win on Court 4, where Maria Gonzalez and Ana Vegara beat GCU freshman Brooke Birch and junior Krista Rowan 21-7, 21-15.