After leading 2-0, Lopes fall in 5 at Air Force

Thursday, November 13

USAF Academy, Colo.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

16-10,8-7Mountain West

Air Force

15-12,7-8Mountain West

Grand Canyon

Air Force

Photo by: Nathan Peters

11/13/2025 10:26:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

GCU looks to regroup for key Saturday match at Nevada

By: Nathan Peters

USAF ACADEMY — Grand Canyon fell to Air Force in a five-set match Thursday on Falcon Court at East Gym. Air Force claimed the Mountain West match with scores of 21-25, 24-26, 25-23, 26-24, 15-12.

The Lopes (16-10, 8-7 MW) posted 62 kills and 11 total blocks, while Air Force countered with 70 kills and 8 service aces.

GCU opened the match with efficient play, taking an early lead over Air Force. Lopes outside hitters Anaelena Ramirez, a senior, and Ana Jaramazovic, a freshman, contributed key kills to maintain the advantage. A series of attack errors by Ashley Bible helped GCU stretch the lead to 16-10.

Ramirez tallied a team-high 17 kills on the match. Jaramazovic tallied 12 kills on .321 hitting.

Jaramazovic and Ramirez kills pushed the first-set score to 24-21. Sophomore setter Taylor Kubacak sealed the first set for GCU with an ace, resulting in a 25-21 victory and 1-0 match lead.

The Lopes outdid the Falcons (15-12, 7-8 MW) in a closely contested second set, finishing with a 26-24 victory.

The set was marked by back-and-forth action with an exchange of leads. Service errors played a critical role in the set's outcome, with the Falcons' final miscue giving GCU the opportunity for Ramirez to finish the set.

In the third set, Air Force led 6-3 off a series of kills. Ramirez and sophomore middle blocker Aubrey Goodere responded with key kills to keep the Lopes close, trailing only 8-6.

The Falcons extended their lead to 19-15 following a service ace. Despite a late Lopes surge with kills by Jaramazovic and Ramirez to narrow the gap to 24-23, Air Force secured the set 25-23.

The Falcons won a tightly contested 26-24 fourth set to even the match at 2-2.

Early in the fourth set, Air Force built a 9-4 lead before GCU rallied to tie the score at 10-10 with freshman oppositie/setter Bella Nunez and graduate outside hitter Sophia Parlanti contributing key kills. The teams traded points, leading to a tense 24-24 draw after a kill by Nunez, who had 13 kills on .345 hitting to go with 26 assists.

Air Force went on to clinch the set and quickly established a 3-0 lead in the fifth set, capitalizing on attack errors.

Nunez and Goodere each managed kills to keep the Lopes within striking distance. However, Air Force maintained control, extending its lead to 13-7.

A service ace and series of points from Nunez rallied GCU, but Air Force won the set 15-12 for a match victory. The Lopes remain in a three-way tie for fourth place, but the Falcons now sit a game back with three regular-season matches remaining.

GCU plays at Nevada on Saturday at 6 p.m. (Phoenix time) with the match streamted on Mountain West Network.