Completed Event: Beach Volleyball versus SCE West Coast Championships on October 10, 2025 ,
Beach VB
vs SCE West Coast Championships
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Sunday, February 23
Phoenix, Ariz.
10 a.m.
Grand Canyon
5
vs
0
Saint Mary's
Photo by: Jack Gilday
Lopes close 1st weekend with 4 wins at home
2/23/2025 2:45:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
GCU heads to Tucson next for Week 2 tournament
The Grand Canyon beach volleyball team continued its strong start to the season with a commanding 5-0 victory over Saint Mary's and 4-1 over Benedictine Mesa on Sunday at GCU Beach Volleyball Stadium.
The young Lopes' returners looked strong in a 4-0 opening weekend to the season.
"I just give credit to the players," GCU head coach Abra Rummel said of the returners. "They put in the time and put in the effort. As coaches, you can ask for what you want. But at the end of the day, it's on them to do it, and I feel like they've done it. They put in the time, put in the effort and they're playing great volleyball because of it."
GCU's No. 1 duo of junior Katie Keefe and sophomore Rhea Kohl led the way in the first match against Saint Mary's, securing a hard-fought win against Allie Cataldo and Hannah Couch. The pair showcased their strengths, taking the match 21-19, 21-18. Across all flights, the Lopes displayed depth and skill with four pairs sweeping their matches in the 5-0 team win.
The No. 2 team of freshmen Ines Piret and Mae Manthe delivered a strong performance, defeating Nya Crump and Chloe Swanson 21-12, 21-14. The match marked Mae's debut in the lineup. Meanwhile, the Drake sisters, Becca and Jessica, continued their impressive form, overcoming Angelina Bour and Sedona Sherman 21-17, 21-14.
GCU sophomore Karynn Garrow and senior Sophia Hladyniuk, playing at the No. 4 spot, secured a victory over Renne Nachtigall and Genevieve Bane, winning 21-11, 22-24, 15-8. At the No. 5 flight, senior Madi Bogle and sophomore Regan Holmer rounded out the sweep with a 23-21, 21-8 win against Delaney Nicholls and Grace Travis.
Later on Sunday, GCU secured a 4-1 victory over Benedictine Mesa at GCU Beach Volleyball Stadium. Despite a tough loss in the No. 1 flight, the Lopes dominated across the remaining matches to claim their fourth win in two days.
The most dominant performance of the day came from the GCU No. 5 pairing of junior Hailey Hutchings and sophomore Regan Holmer, who overwhelmed Sophie Drollinger and Ella Burton with a commanding 21-6, 21-7 victory.
At the No. 4 flight, Garrow and Hladyniuk delivered another winning performance, defeating Nichole Gary and Anna Brytkowska 21-9, 21-13. Their strong net play and defensive consistency set the tone for the Lopes.
The No. 2 duo of Becca Drake, a sophomore, and Jessica Drake, a junior, took down Amaya Evans and Annika Wallace 21-11, 21-12. The Drakes were undefeated in sets on the weekend.
In the No. 3 flight, Piret and Manthe took the victory over Megan Hicks and Daisy Motes, winning 21-17, 21-15.
The lone setback for the Lopes came in the No. 1 flight, where Keefe and Kohl fell to Taylor Erickson and Kylie Bartel in a close match, 17-21, 21-19, 12-15. A Keefe block and deep corner shot forced the third set.
The Lopes look poised to continue their strong season as they prepare for Stetson, Arizona, Boise State and Arizona State in Tucson on Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 28-29).
"I thought the Arizona match was super competitive and they had scouted us really well, so we're going to have to go back and watch their film," Rummel said. "There will be some good competition with Stetson, Boise and ASU. We are looking forward to growing from what we did this weekend and figuring out the little things that each pairing needs to do to get better and using that to hopefully take another step forward."
The GCU squad will have one more weekend at home in late March with a second night match taking place.
"I thought it was awesome," Rummel said of Friday's night match against Arizona. "A lot of the other teams showed up and supported us, which is cool. We saw a lot of people from the Arizona beach volleyball community, both from people that (assistant coach) Keone (Coronado) and I have relationships with but also some juniors players. It was really neat to see the community coalesce at our event."
The young Lopes' returners looked strong in a 4-0 opening weekend to the season.
"I just give credit to the players," GCU head coach Abra Rummel said of the returners. "They put in the time and put in the effort. As coaches, you can ask for what you want. But at the end of the day, it's on them to do it, and I feel like they've done it. They put in the time, put in the effort and they're playing great volleyball because of it."
GCU's No. 1 duo of junior Katie Keefe and sophomore Rhea Kohl led the way in the first match against Saint Mary's, securing a hard-fought win against Allie Cataldo and Hannah Couch. The pair showcased their strengths, taking the match 21-19, 21-18. Across all flights, the Lopes displayed depth and skill with four pairs sweeping their matches in the 5-0 team win.
The No. 2 team of freshmen Ines Piret and Mae Manthe delivered a strong performance, defeating Nya Crump and Chloe Swanson 21-12, 21-14. The match marked Mae's debut in the lineup. Meanwhile, the Drake sisters, Becca and Jessica, continued their impressive form, overcoming Angelina Bour and Sedona Sherman 21-17, 21-14.
GCU sophomore Karynn Garrow and senior Sophia Hladyniuk, playing at the No. 4 spot, secured a victory over Renne Nachtigall and Genevieve Bane, winning 21-11, 22-24, 15-8. At the No. 5 flight, senior Madi Bogle and sophomore Regan Holmer rounded out the sweep with a 23-21, 21-8 win against Delaney Nicholls and Grace Travis.
Later on Sunday, GCU secured a 4-1 victory over Benedictine Mesa at GCU Beach Volleyball Stadium. Despite a tough loss in the No. 1 flight, the Lopes dominated across the remaining matches to claim their fourth win in two days.
The most dominant performance of the day came from the GCU No. 5 pairing of junior Hailey Hutchings and sophomore Regan Holmer, who overwhelmed Sophie Drollinger and Ella Burton with a commanding 21-6, 21-7 victory.
At the No. 4 flight, Garrow and Hladyniuk delivered another winning performance, defeating Nichole Gary and Anna Brytkowska 21-9, 21-13. Their strong net play and defensive consistency set the tone for the Lopes.
The No. 2 duo of Becca Drake, a sophomore, and Jessica Drake, a junior, took down Amaya Evans and Annika Wallace 21-11, 21-12. The Drakes were undefeated in sets on the weekend.
In the No. 3 flight, Piret and Manthe took the victory over Megan Hicks and Daisy Motes, winning 21-17, 21-15.
The lone setback for the Lopes came in the No. 1 flight, where Keefe and Kohl fell to Taylor Erickson and Kylie Bartel in a close match, 17-21, 21-19, 12-15. A Keefe block and deep corner shot forced the third set.
The Lopes look poised to continue their strong season as they prepare for Stetson, Arizona, Boise State and Arizona State in Tucson on Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 28-29).
"I thought the Arizona match was super competitive and they had scouted us really well, so we're going to have to go back and watch their film," Rummel said. "There will be some good competition with Stetson, Boise and ASU. We are looking forward to growing from what we did this weekend and figuring out the little things that each pairing needs to do to get better and using that to hopefully take another step forward."
The GCU squad will have one more weekend at home in late March with a second night match taking place.
"I thought it was awesome," Rummel said of Friday's night match against Arizona. "A lot of the other teams showed up and supported us, which is cool. We saw a lot of people from the Arizona beach volleyball community, both from people that (assistant coach) Keone (Coronado) and I have relationships with but also some juniors players. It was really neat to see the community coalesce at our event."
GCU 5, Saint Mary's 0
- Katie Keefe and Rhea Kohl (GCU) def. Allie Cataldo and Hannah Couch (SMU) 21-19, 21-18
- Ines Piret and Mae Manthe (GCU) def. Nya Crump and Chloe Swanson (SMU) 21-12, 21-14
- Becca Drake and Jessica Drake (GCU) def. Angelina Bour and Sedona Sherman (SMU) 21-17, 21-14
- Karynn Garrow and Sophia Hladyniuk (GCU) def. Renne Nachtigall and Genevieve Bane (SMU) 21-11, 22-24, 15-8
- Madi Bogle and Regan Holmer (GCU) def. Delaney Nicholls and Grace Travis (SMU) 23-21, 21-8
GCU 4, Benedictine Mesa 1
- Taylor Erickson and Kylie Bartel (BENU) def. Katie Keefe and Rhea Kohl (GCU) 21-17, 19-21, 15-12
- Becca Drake and Jessica Drake (GCU) def. Amaya Evans and Annika Wallace (BENU) 21-11, 21-12
- Ines Piret and Mae Manthe (GCU) def. Megan Hicks and Daisy Motes (BENU) 21-17, 21-15
- Karynn Garrow and Sophia Hladyniuk (GCU) def. Nichole Gary and Anna Brytkowska (BENU) 21-9, 21-13
- Hailey Hutchings and Regan Holmer (GCU) def. Sophie Drollinger and Ella Burton (BENU) 21-6, 21-7
Players Mentioned
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