GCU hands SDSU 1st conference loss in 5 sets

Thursday, October 16

San Diego, Calif.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

11-7,3-4Mountain West

San Diego State

11-7,6-1Mountain West

Grand Canyon

San Diego St.

Photo by: Nathan Peters

10/16/2025 10:11:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Lopes' 21 blocks, Bellus' 14 blocks set Division I-era program records

By: Nathan Peters

SAN DIEGO — Grand Canyon earned a statement win on the road Thursday night, defeating San Diego State in a 25–23, 16–25, 28–30, 25–15, 15–13 thriller at Peterson Gym.

The Lopes' front line dominated with a Division I-era program record of 21 team blocks, halting San Diego State's undefeated run in conference play. Freshman middle blocker Aubrey Bellus also GCU's DI-era program record with 14 blocks.

"Overall, the team effort was very solid tonight," Lopes head coach Kendra Potts said. "You're playing an undefeated team in conference and just an overall great team and great program. So we knew what we were up against. We just didn't need to get too emotional, especially when they were making runs. We just needed to make sure we reset. We knew our block could probably give them issues… I knew that we could really scheme things out and line things up pretty well."

The Lopes (11-7, 3-4 MW) overcame an 18-12, first-set deficit with a 6–0 run to tie and then a 23-18 hole with a 7-0 run to win 25-23, fueled by two aces from senior outside hitter Anaelena Ramirez and two closing kills from freshman setter/opposite Bella Nunez.

"A lot of first sets, you're just kind of learning the team and also just wanting to get yourself stabilized in a new gym," Potts said.

"They made a couple of runs and two rotations in Set 1 that got us stuck. Then we finally counteracted those runs with us getting them stuck in a rotation. And out of all people with Ana's serve, to be leading the way in that situation was pretty special."

Ramirez had another impactful performance, recording 18 kills, 16 digs, a career-high four ace and four block assists.

Nunez added her fifth triple-double of the season, tallying an elite line of 17 kills on .455 hitting, 24 assists, 12 digs and five block assists.

"Nunez with another triple-double, but offensively I just felt like she put an exclamation point on things," Potts said. "Just staying aggressive all through the night. That's what we've been trying to work on with her — just staying in the green light."

GCU freshman opposite Macey Hughes delivered an important performance off the bench, hitting .421 with 10 kills and three block assists, including four crucial kills in the deciding fifth set.

"Everybody's number at some point is going to be called and we don't know when and we don't know what night it's going to be, but Macey coming in and she just played so loose and free," Potts said. "Also, her block showed up and just was able to slow down some of the best players on San Diego State's team."

Bellus, the 6-foot-2 Mesa Mountain View High School graduate, anchored the front line with a dominant 14 total blocks, which is the Mountain West's season high and the third most by any player in the nation in a five-set match.

Sophomore middle blocker Aubrey Goodere matched her season high with seven total blocks for the Lopes, whose 21 blocks tied for the nation's fifth most in a five-set match this season.

The Lopes finished with eight service aces, which matched their season high. Ramirez's career-high four aces led the team at the service line, helping disrupt the Aztecs' offensive rhythm.

After winning the opening set, GCU dropped a lopsided second set and lost three set points in the second set before falling 30-28. A dominant fourth set of hitting .320 to San Diego State's .000 evened the match at 2-2

In the fifth set, Grand Canyon jumped out to an early lead behind Hughes' offense and Bellus' net presence.

San Diego State (11-7, 6-1 MW) rallied late, cutting the deficit to 14–13, but Ramirez delivered an off-speed kill off Nunez's assist to seal the match 15–13.

"We're seeing growth and growth takes patience," Potts said. "You're not going to be able to see it every single day in practice, but whenever you get to see the fruits of your labor come into play, whenever you get to suit up and play with each other, it's just a lot of fun to see."

GCU moved into a sixth-place tie in the Mountain West heading into a Saturday match at New Mexico, which the Lopes swept at home last Saturday. The match will be streamed on the Mountain West Network at 11 a.m. (Phoenix time).