Lopes back in action at home - Grand Canyon University Athletics

Friday, February 9

Phoenix, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Arkansas

Photo by: Nate Cochran

2/7/2024 1:56:00 PM | Women's Tennis

GCU hosts Arkansas on Friday, Idaho-UC Riverside doubleheader on Sunday

By: Jerob Moon


Grand Canyon Lopes (4-1)	vs.	Arkansas Razorbacks (3-1)	Idaho Vandals (2-1)	UC Riverside Highlanders (0-4)
		Friday, Feb. 9 2 p.m.	Sunday, Feb. 11 11 a.m.	Sunday, Feb. 11 3 p.m.
		Live Stats	Live Stats	Live Stats

After a bye week, the Grand Canyon women's tennis team is back in action with three matches at home. The Lopes will face their second SEC opponent, Arkansas, on Friday before a Sunday doubleheader against Idaho and UC Riverside at GCU Tennis Facility.

3 THINGS TO KNOW

SINGLES SUCCESS: The Lopes have found success in singles so far this season. The Lopes are 21-4 across the six singles levels while a quartet of Lopes have four wins. Graduate Natasha Puehse, senior Santa Strombacha and freshman Valeriia Krokhotina are each 4-0 at the top three singles courts while freshman Iva Sepa is 4-1 at Courts 4 and 5.
WINNING STREAK: Puehsea and Strombacha have been strong at the top doubles court with three consecutive wins. The top GCU duo has only dropped three games in its last three matches with 6-0, 6-1 and 6-2 wins.
HOMESTAND CONCLUDES: The season-opening homestand for the Lopes will come to an end next week. The nine-match homestand will conclude against Cal Poly on Feb. 17. The team will hit the road for the first time against North Texas and Baylor on Feb. 24 and 25.

SCOUTING

Arkansas has started the season with a 3-1 record. The match against the Lopes will be their first since Jan. 27, when the Razorbacks took on No. 5 Michigan in a 4-0 loss. Arkansas was an NCAA tournament team in 2023, losing to Washington in the first round. Carolina Gomez Alonso is ranked No. 79 in the latest national singles rankings while Morgan Cross and Indiana Spink are No. 21 in doubles.

Idaho began the season with a loss to Washington State before rattling off wins against Nicholls State and Lamar. The Vandals will be on the road for a majority of the season with just five home matches in Moscow. Freshman Naomi Schraeder has started the year with a 3-0 record in singles play.

UC Riverside is still looking for its first win of the season with just one point through their first four matches. The Highlanders lost 7-0 to Long Beach State in the Big West opener and they will face CSU Northridge on Thursday before traveling to Phoenix.