Season opens with losses to UCSD, ASU

Saturday, January 17

Phoenix, Ariz.

10 a.m.

Grand Canyon

UC San Diego

Photo by: Tyler Killgore

1/17/2026 8:25:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GCU's young lineup gains experience vs. strong opponents

By: Tyler Killgore

Grand Canyon battled hard in a Saturday split-site doubleheader, including a home opener against UC San Diego and a crosstown match at Arizona State.

GCU loses 4-0 to UCSD

The Lopes had flashes of excellence but fell short to a Tritons 4-0 win to start the season at GCU Tennis Facility.

In doubles, GCU sophomore Bella Crossman and senior Dani Deaifi lost to Alisa Lansky and Allison Lian 6-1. On Court 3, Lopes sophomore Peyton Duckett and freshman Amalia Suciu secured their first win as a pair. The duo defeated Carling Chan and Hana Gamracy 6-3.

With Court 1 left to decide the doubles point, GCU sophomore Karina Hofbauer and freshman Hams Metwally battled against Olivia Allegre and Julia Visiya but the Tritons pair won 7-6 on a tiebreaker.

In singles, Visiya defeated Duckett 7-5, 6-0 while Sydney Schnell, a junior from Phoenix, made her Lopes debut in a 6-2, 6-1 loss to Lian.

On Court 3, GCU's Metwally dominated early with her strong forehand to win the first set 6-2 against Gamracy, who rallied with 6-3, 6-3 wins.

The other matches were left unfinished once the Tritons clinched the match.

"Not some of the results we wanted today or the level we want to play, but we got some quality matches we want under our belt early in the season," GCU head coach Dané Vorster said. "Experience for our newcomers and see the things we need to work on early on."

After playing for nearly three hours, the Lopes headed to Tempe for an afternoon match at Arizona State.

ASU holds home court with 4-0 win

Arizona State took the doubles point, starting with a Court 2 win as GCU's Crossman and Deaifi were defeated 6-1 by Arizona State's Emilija Tverijonaite and Vivian Ovrootsky. For the Court 1 draw, Hofbauer and Metwally were defeated 6-3 by ASU's Karsyn Evans and Lily Taylor.

GCU did secure another Court 3 doubles win from Duckett and Suciu, who beat the Sun Devils' Zlata Bartanusz and Sarang Lim 6-3.

In singles action, the young Lopes continued to battle. Metwally faced Ovrootsky, the 76th-ranked player who won 6-1, 6-2 on Court 3. On Court 5, Duckett lost to Evans 6-0, 6-0.

Arizona State's Zlata Bartanusz defeated GCU's Deaifi 6-2, 6-2 over on Court 4 to clinched the dual for the Sun Devils.

"I'm proud of how we responded and stepped up to find an improved level in our game against Arizona State," Vorster said.

The Lopes return to play DePaul at 11 a.m. Monday at GCU Tennis Facility.