Lopes go 2-0 in senior day celebration

Friday, March 28

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

UTEP

Photo by: Brayden Stenner

3/28/2025 8:48:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

GCU closes evening with thrilling win over South Carolina

By: Nathan Peters

The No. 13 Grand Canyon beach volleyball team delivered a dominant performance against UTEP before grinding out a narrow victory over South Carolina in a doubleheader on Friday at GCU Beach Volleyball Stadium.

The Lopes opened the day with a commanding 5-0 sweep over UTEP, winning all flights and showing resilience in key moments. Katie Keefe and Adriana Ferro secured the top flight with a 14-21, 21-10, 15-12 victory. Rhea Kohl and Ines Piret fought off match points in a tense second set before claiming a 18-21, 23-21, 15-13 win in Flight 2. Becca and Jessica Drake, Karynn Garrow and Sophia Hladyniuk, and Madi Bogle and Regan Holmer each won in straight sets to complete the shutout.

In the evening match, GCU defeated South Carolina in a back-and-forth 3-2 battle. The Lopes dropped the top two flights but earned victories in the bottom three. The Drake twins completed the comeback with a 21-19, 21-18 win in Flight 3 after Garrow and Hladyniuk won a 21-19, 21-14 match in Flight 4 with Bogle and Holmer also winning with a dominant 21-12, 21-14 performance in Flight 5.

Jessica Drake has now tallied 58 career wins and is one shy of GCU legend and professional beach athlete Molly Turner (now Molly Shaw).

The Lopes will close the weekend with a 10 a.m. match against UAB at home Saturday.

GCU 5, UTEP 0
Katie Keefe/Adriana Ferro (GCU) def. Madison Hill/Ema Uskokovic (UTEP) 14-21, 21-10, 15-12
Rhea Kohl/Ines Piret (GCU) def. Krista Paegle/Paulina Acuna (UTEP) 18-21, 23-21, 15-13
Becca Drake/Jessica Drake (GCU) def. Mila Popovic/Marian Ovalle (UTEP) 21-18, 21-18
Karynn Garrow/Sophia Hladyniuk (GCU) def. Lauren Perry/Emma Schubert (UTEP) 21-16, 21-17
Madi Bogle/Regan Holmer (GCU) def. Adriana Oporto/Mackenzi Davis (UTEP) 21-19, 21-16

GCU 3, South Carolina 2
Jolie Cranford/Julia Waugh (USC) def. Katie Keefe/Adriana Ferro (GCU) 21-14, 21-18
Riley Whitesides/Rachel Hartmann (USC) def. Rhea Kohl/Ines Piret (GCU) 24-22, 21-14
Becca Drake/Jessica Drake (GCU) def. VB Trost/Morgan Downs (USC) 21-19, 21-18
Karynn Garrow/Sophia Hladyniuk (GCU) def. Sadie Nelson/Juju Quintero (USC) 21-19, 21-14
Madi Bogle/Regan Holmer (GCU) def. Lauren Lawson/Reagan Elizondo (USC) 21-12, 21-14