Lopes' comeback falls short in 5-set battle at Air Force

Friday, October 16

USAF Academy, Colo.

5 p.m. (MST)

Grand Canyon

9-10,3-5Mountain West

Air Force

7-12,3-5Mountain West

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Grand Canyon	22	24	26	26	8	2
Air Force	25	26	24	24	15	3

Photo by: Nathan Peters

Lopes' comeback falls short in 5-set battle at Air Force

10/16/2026 9:08:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Williams' 17 kills lead Lopes, Hughes posts 9 kills while Goodere, Bellus combine for 20 kills

By: Nathan Peters

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. —Grand Canyon volleyball erased a two-set deficit behind a balanced front-line effort Friday night before Air Force pulled away in the fifth set to defeat the Lopes 25-22, 26-24, 24-26, 24-26, 15-8 at Cadet East Gym in USAF Academy, Colorado.

GCU fell to 9-10 overall and 3-5 in Mountain West play after nearly completing the reverse sweep one night after defeating the Falcons in four sets.

The Lopes hit .215 for the match with 67 kills, led by fifth-year opposite hitter Starr Williams' 17 kills on .267 hitting. Senior outside hitter Katie Schulz added 13 kills, while junior middle blocker Aubrey Goodere and sophomore middle blocker Aubrey Bellus each finished with 10.

Goodere delivered her 10 kills on .368 hitting despite appearing in only three sets and added six total blocks, including two solo. Bellus committed just one attack error on 21 swings to hit .429 while adding five total blocks and an ace.

Sophomore opposite hitter Macey Hughes provided one of GCU's most complete performances with nine kills on .333 hitting, seven block assists and five digs. Her seven block assists were a team high as the Lopes finished with 13 total blocks.

GCU grabbed an 8-4 lead in the opening set behind early production from Hughes, who recorded three kills during the Lopes' strong start.

Air Force steadily worked its way back, tying the set at 12-12 and eventually moving ahead 18-15. GCU continued to battle and pulled within 24-22, but the Falcons finished the set on the next point for a 25-22 victory.

The Lopes again found themselves in a tight finish in the second set.

Air Force built a 15-8 advantage before GCU mounted a late response. Williams helped fuel the comeback, and the Lopes eventually erased the deficit to tie the set at 22-22.

After Air Force moved ahead 23-22, Schulz answered to make it 23-23. GCU again tied the set at 24-24, but the Falcons scored the final two points to take the set 26-24 and build a 2-0 match lead.

Rather than fading, GCU found another level in the third.

The Lopes hit .355 in the set, their best mark of the night, while Goodere became a major factor after entering the match.

With GCU trailing 17-13, Bellus delivered a kill before Goodere put down consecutive kills and followed with a solo block to pull the Lopes within 17-16. Goodere and Hughes then combined on another block before Goodere added two more kills as GCU eventually pulled even at 19-19.

Williams followed with kills to give GCU leads at 20-19 and 21-20 before the Falcons tied the set again at 22-22.

Bellus put GCU back in front with a kill, and Williams later gave the Lopes set point at 24-23. Air Force tied it once more, but Schulz delivered a kill before Goodere ended the 26-24 victory with a big block.

The Lopes carried the momentum into another tightly contested fourth set.

After falling behind early, GCU worked back to a 13-13 tie and began creating separation. Bellus and sophomore setter Bella Nunez combined on consecutive blocks to give the Lopes a 15-13 edge.

Hughes then became a driving force late in the set. With GCU ahead 18-17, Hughes combined with Goodere on a block before delivering consecutive kills to stretch the lead to 21-17.

Air Force closed the gap, but Hughes answered again with a kill for a 22-20 advantage. Goodere put down another at 23-21 before the Falcons rallied to tie the set at 23-23.

Goodere responded with a kill for set point. Air Force tied it at 24-24, but Bellus closed the door with consecutive kills, giving GCU a 26-24 victory and sending the match to a fifth set.

The deciding set stayed close through an 8-8 tie. Hughes had a kill and teamed with Goodere on two blocks during GCU's early push, but Air Force took control from there.

The Falcons scored the final seven points to win the fifth 15-8 and deny GCU's comeback.

Williams added six digs to her team-high 17 kills. Schulz finished with nine digs to accompany her 13 kills.

Williams averaged 4.67 kills per set this week in nine sets of action.

Junior setter Taylor Kubacak and Nunez each recorded 28 assists, with Nunez adding 10 digs and four blocks. Freshman defensive specialist Nika Zupanic led GCU with 12 digs, while Kubacak and Schulz each had nine.

The Lopes finished with a 13-11 advantage in total blocks and 78 digs to Air Force's 77 but were held to .040 hitting in the deciding set after hitting .355 and .244 in the third and fourth sets.

Next, the Lopes will host Wyoming for two matches on October 22nd and 24th.