Optimism continues despite 2 losses in Manhattan

Friday, March 15

Manhattan Beach, Calif.

9 a.m.

Grand Canyon

UCLA

Photo by: Nathan Peters

3/15/2024 9:25:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

Young GCU core continues to learn from bigtime matches

By: Nathan Peters

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. – The No.17 Grand Canyon beach volleyball team finished its final California trip of the season Saturday with tough losses to two top-10 programs.

GCU played the East Meets West Invitational host No. 2 UCLA, which defeated the Lopes 5-0 in the first match.

GCU next lost 4-1 to No. 10 Loyola Marymount at Long Beach State. The Lopes duo of junior Jessica Drake and graduate Mackenzie Harris, won the first set 21-18, had a shaky second set, losing 21-15, before eventually winning the third-set decider 16-14 to grab a win in the fifth flight.

The Lopes' match was closer than the story of the scoreboard told. The first pair of senior Krista Rowan and junior Sophia Hladyniuk fought hard in the second set after losing the first 21-14. The pair stormed back, grabbing an exciting 21-19 second set. The third was close until the very end, when the Lopes fell 15-10.

In the No. 2 flight, GCU freshman Karynn Garrow and senior Sarah Dickson won a wild first set 21-18 before a short-lived rainstorm came over the beach with a wild gust of wind. The second set came down to a difference of two points that fell to the Lions. In the decisive third set, the pair lost 15-11.

GCU will return to play for the Midseason CCSA Tournament against conference foes LSU, South Carolina, Florida State and Jacksonville in Tallahassee, Florida, on March 23-24.

UCLA 5, GCU 0

Lexy Denaburg and Maggie Boyd (UCLA) def. Sophia Hladyniuk/Krista Rowan (GCU) 21-16, 21-14
Peri Brennan and Devon Newberry (UCLA) def. Karynn Garrow/Sarah Dickson (GCU) 21-14, 21-10
Kenzie Brower and Jessie Smith def. Katie Keefe/Elly Collins (GCU) 21-15, 21-16
Tessa Van Winkle and Jaden Whitmarsh (UCLA) def. Madi Bogle/Becca Drake (GCU) 21-19, 21-7
Ensley Alden and Natalie Myszkowski (UCLA)) def. Mackenzie Harris/Jessica Drake (GCU) 21-14, 21-12

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

LMU 4, GCU 1

Vilhelmiina Prihti and Michelle Shaffer (LMU) def. Krista Rowan and Sophia Hladyniuk (GCU) 21-14 19-21 15-10
Isabelle Reffel and Abbey Thorup (LMU) def. Karynn Garrow and Sarah Dickson (GCU) 18-21 21-19 15-11
Anna Pelloia and Jacinda Ramirez (LMU) def. Elly Collins and Katie Keefe (GCU) 21-17 21-14
Alisha Stevens and Chloe Hooker (LMU) def. Becca Drake and Adria Serrano Ferro (GCU) 23-21 21-12
Jessica Drake and Mackenzie Harris (GCU) def. Cassie Chinn and Madi Firnett (LMU) 21-18 15-21 16-14