Lopes fall twice in tough 1st day at Battle for LA

Friday, March 1

Los Angeles, Calif.

3 p.m.

Grand Canyon

LMU

Photo by: Wesley Kurz

3/1/2024 9:00:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

Saturday provides chance against back-to-back national champion USC

By: Nathan Peters

LOS ANGELES – The No. 14 Grand Canyon beach volleyball team fought hard in the first day of the Battle for LA Invitational.

GCU and No. 13 Washington were tied 2-2 with only the third set of the No. 3 pairs remaining. In the end, the Lopes lost 15-11 to suffer their first dual match loss of the season.

GCU had a quick turnaround to regroup before facing No. 5 Loyola Marymount. Through the first two matchups, the No. 2 pairing of senior Krista Rowan and junior Sophia Hladyniuk got a three-set win to tie the match 1-1. The Lions responded to win the final three matches for a 4-1 victory in just under two hours.

The Lopes are back in action on Saturday against No. 3 USC (1 p.m.) and No. 18 Cal Poly (3 p.m.).

UW 3, GCU 2

Piper Monk-Heidrich / Maggy Rabitsch def. Noelle Weintraub / Karynn Garrow: 21-9, 21-10
Zoey Henson / Lauren Wilcock def. Krista Rowan / Sophia Hladyniuk: 15-21, 21-12, 15-11
Scarlett Dahl / Josie Ulrich def. Madison Bogle / Adriana Serrano Ferro: 21-8, 23-21, 15-11
Jessica Drake / Sarah Dickson def. Kendall Maher / Brook Balue: 21-18, 13-21, 16-14
MacKenzie Harris / Katy Keefe def. Natalie Martin / Kierstya Bartoy: 21-14, 12-21, 19-17
Sarah Wilcox / Andrea Wilkes def. Hailey Hutchings / Kamilah Checani: 25-23, 21-16

Order of finish: 6, 2, 4, 1, 5, 3

LMU 4, GCU 1

Michelle Shaffer / Vilhelmiina Prihti def. Noelle Weintraub / Karynn Garrow : 21-13, 22-20
Krista Rowan / Sophia Hladyniuk def. Abbey Thorup / Isabelle Reffel : 25-23, 13-21, 15-12
Jacinda Ramirez / Anna Pelloia def. Madi Bogle / Adriana Serrano Ferro : 21-10, 21-13
Chloe Hooker / Alisha Stevens def. Jessica Drake / Sarah Dickson : 21-19, 21-16
Cassie Chinn / Madi Firnett def. Mackenzie Harris / Katie Keefe : 21-16, 21-15
Jaeya Brach / Ellie Davis def. Kamilah Checani / Regan Holmer : 15-21, 23-21, 16-14