Lopes open season with dominant sweeps

Saturday, February 22

Phoenix, Ariz.

4 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Arizona Christian

Photo by: Bryce Fairchild

2/22/2025 9:29:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

GCU makes statement in night matches at home

By: Nathan Peters

The Grand Canyon beach volleyball team opened its season with a dominant showing Saturday at GCU Beach Volleyball Stadium, securing victories against Arizona Christian and Arizona to kick off the weekend.

GCU opened the day with a commanding performance against Arizona Christian. The No. 1 duo of junior Katie Keefe and sophomore Rhea Kohl led the charge, securing a victory against Emee Fellens and Brianna Boeckman. The Lopes continued their strong play across all flights, with the pairs of sophomore Adrianna Ferro and freshman Ines Piret, sophomore Becca Drake and junior Jessica Drake, sophomore Karynn Garrow and senior Sophia Hladyniuk, and senior Madi Bogle and sophomore Regan Holmer all delivering wins.

Piret and Ferro fought of a match point to win in three 21-16, 15-21, 17-15.

In a rare home night dual, GCU faced Arizona later Saturday and continued its impressive form. The No. 1 pairing of Keefe and Kohl took down Kylee Fitzsimmons and Brooke Blutreich, while Ferro and Piret fought hard to win at the No. 2 spot. The Drakes, Garrow and Hladyniuk, and Bogle and Holmer rounded out the swee for the Lopes.p

In the opening set of the Arizona match, Garrow and Hladynuik fought off a set point from the Wildcats and took the set 22-20.

In the next flight, Kohl and Keefe went on a strong 4-0 run to open the lead to 9-4 and won the second set 21-14 off a major Keefe block.

The most thrilling moment of the night came when Becca Drake dived for a ball and placed it just on the other side of the net to set up a match point. A few plays later, Jessica Drake closed the night with a block to seal a 22-20 win.

GCU looks to continue its momentum as it prepares for another day of competition at home Sunday, when it takes on Saint Mary's at 10 a.m. and Benedictine Mesa at 12 p.m.

GCU 5, Arizona Christian 0

Katie Keefe and Rhea Kohl (GCU) def. Emee Fellens and Brianna Boeckman (ACU) 21-12, 21-9
Adrianna Ferro and Ines Piret (GCU) def. Riley Brown and Haley Brown (ACU) 21-16, 15-21, 17-15
Becca Drake and Jessica Drake (GCU) def. Eliana Cho and Abigail Nelson (ACU) 21-3, 21-15
Karynn Garrow and Sophia Hladyniuk (GCU) def. Jaiden Zeis and Emily Katzer (ACU) 21-13, 21-10
Madi Bogle and Regan Holmer (GCU) def. Alyssa Robles and Kapri Espinosa (ACU) 21-17, 21-9

GCU 5, Arizona 0

Katie Keefe and Rhea Kohl (GCU) def. Kylee Fitzsimmons and Brooke Blutreich (Arizona) 21-17, 21-14
Adrianna Ferro and Ines Piret (GCU) def. Adri Nieves Papaleo and Kate Phillips (Arizona) 19-21, 21-10, 15-11
Becca Drake and Jessica Drake (GCU) def. Ashlyn Zilliken and Madeline Walker (Arizona) 21-17, 22-20
Karynn Garrow and Sophia Hladyniuk (GCU) def. Annie Kost and Brooke Boyko (Arizona) 22-20, 21-18
Madi Bogle and Regan Holmer (GCU) def. Sadie Moore and Elin Kaiser (Arizona) 21-14, 21-10