Lopes split matches Saturday at Cactus Classic

Saturday, March 1

Tucson, Ariz.

10 a.m.

Grand Canyon

Boise State

Photo by: Rachel Sollazzo

3/1/2025 1:58:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

GCU keeps 2 pairs undefeated after 2nd weekend of sesaon

By: Nathan Peters

TUCSON, Ariz. — The No. 18 Grand Canyon beach volleyball team concluded weekend play at the Cactus Classic with a hard-fought split, securing a 3-2 victory over Boise State before falling 3-2 to No. 11 Arizona State in Tucson on Saturday.

GCU opened Saturday with a thrilling win against Boise State, rallying after dropping the top two flights. The Lopes secured victories in the bottom three flights, highlighted by sophomore Becca Drake and junior Jessica Drake's 23-21, 21-16 win in the 3s pair. GCU sophomore Karynn Garrow and senior Sophia Hladyniuk dominated their match, 21-9, 21-16, while senior Madi Bogle and sophomore Regan Holmer clinched the deciding point with a 21-16, 18-21, 15-8 victory.

In the second match, GCU battled but came up just short in a 3-2 loss to Arizona State. The Sun Devils took control early, securing straight-set wins in the top two flights. The Drake sisters responded for GCU with a gritty 19-21, 21-18, 15-10 win in the 3s pair. Garrow and Hladyniuk pulled off a 4s comeback victory, 11-21, 21-16, 17-15. However, ASU clinched the match with a straight-set win in Flight 5. Along with the Drake sisters, Hladyniuk and Garrow remain undefeated this season.

The Lopes showed resilience throughout the day, securing one win and pushing a top-15 opponent to the wire. GCU will next head to Stanford for a midseason conference tournament on Friday and Saturday with matches against USC, Cal, Oregon and UCLA.

GCU 3, Boise State 2

Addison Wolden/Ava Anderson (BOI) def. Katie Keefe/Rhea Kohl (GCU) 21-16, 21-11
Sharli O'Neil/Allyson Alden (BOI) def. Adriana Ferro/Ines Piret (GCU) 21-18, 13-21, 23-21
Becca Drake/Jessica Drake (GCU) def. Avery Allen/Abbie Wolf (BOI) 23-21, 21-16
Karynn Garrow/Sophia Hladyniuk (GCU) def. Emilia Guerra-Acuña/Addison Moss (BOI) 21-9, 21-16
Madi Bogle/Regan Holmer (GCU) def. Elli Wolthuis/Lily Patock (BOI) 21-16, 18-21, 15-8

Arizona State 3, GCU 2

Ava Williamson/Daniella Kensinger (ASU) def. Katie Keefe/Rhea Kohl (GCU) 21-15, 21-14
Anya Pemberton/Olivia McElroy (ASU) def. Adriana Ferro/Ines Piret (GCU) 22-20, 21-19
Becca Drake/Jessica Drake (GCU) def. Tori Clement/Ava Kirunchyk (ASU) 19-21, 21-18, 15-10
Karynn Garrow/Sophia Hladyniuk (GCU) def. Arden Besecker/Ava Haughy (ASU) 11-21, 21-16, 17-15
Zoe Taylor/Kendall Whitmarsh (ASU) def. Madi Bogle/Regan Holmer (GCU) 21-18, 21-14