Lopes drop tight top-10 matches Friday

Friday, March 7

Stanford, Calif.

9 a.m.

Grand Canyon

USC

Photo by: Bryce Fairchild

3/7/2025 2:09:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

GCU returns Saturday with opportunities against Oregon, No. 1 UCLA

By: Nathan Peters

STANFORD, Calif. — The No. 16 Grand Canyon beach volleyball team wrapped up Friday's action at the MPSF Mid-Season Rumble with a pair of close matches, falling 3-2 to both No. 3 USC and No. 9 California.

GCU opened the day with a battle against USC, narrowly missing an upset against the Trojans. The Lopes picked up wins in the bottom two flights, as Madi Bogle and Regan Holmer secured a straight-set victory (21-15, 21-17) in Flight 5, while Becca Drake and Jessica Drake added another straight-set win (21-19, 21-18) in Flight 4. However, USC claimed three hard-fought matches, including a decisive three-setter in Flight 3, to edge out the 3-2 victory.

In the afternoon match, GCU once again found themselves in a tight contest but came up just short against Cal. The Golden Bears took dominant wins in the top two flights, but the Lopes responded with victories in the 3s and 5s pairs. Karynn Garrow and Sophia Hladyniuk delivered a gritty 16-21, 22-20, 15-10 win in Flight 3, while Bogle and Holmer stayed strong in Flight 5 with a 21-12, 24-22 triumph. A tense three-set battle in Flight 4 proved to be the difference with Cal narrowly escaping a 17-15 win in the third set.

Despite the losses, GCU showed resilience against two top-ranked teams and will look to bounce back as the tournament continues on Saturday with duals against Oregon and UCLA.

USC 3, GCU 2
Madison White/Zoey Henson (USC) def. Katie Keefe/Adriana Ferro (GCU) 17-21, 21-12, 15-11
Ashley Pater/Kennedy Coakley (USC) def. Rhea Kohl/Ines Piret (GCU) 21-19, 21-13
Mabyn Thomas/Madison Goellner (USC) def. Karynn Garrow/Sophia Hladyniuk (GCU) 14-21, 21-18, 15-10
Becca Drake/Jessica Drake (GCU) def. Jess Horwath/Kaileigh Truslow (USC) 21-19, 21-18
Madi Bogle/Regan Holmer (GCU) def. Calinda Kok/Ella Larkin (USC) 21-15, 21-17

Cal 3, GCU 2
Emma Donley/Portia Sherman (CAL) def. Katie Keefe/Adriana Ferro (GCU) 21-11, 21-12
Gia Fisher/Sierra Caffo (CAL) def. Rhea Kohl/Ines Piret (GCU) 21-19, 16-21, 15-7
Karynn Garrow/Sophia Hladyniuk (GCU) def. Marilu Pally/Alexand Young-Gomez (CAL) 16-21, 22-20, 15-10
Jenna Colligan/Christine DeRoos (CAL) def. Becca Drake/Jessica Drake (GCU) 21-13, 18-21, 17-15
Madi Bogle/Regan Holmer (GCU) def. Ella Sears/Ella Dreibholz (CAL) 21-12, 24-22