Tight sets tilt to Hawai'i; rematch comes quickly

Friday, October 2

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

7-7,1-2Mountain West

Hawai'i

11-3,3-0Mountain West

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Hawaii	25	25	25	3
Grand Canyon	23	23	20	0

Photo by: Nate Cochran

10/2/2026 9:26:00 PM | Volleyball, Paul Coro

Box Score

GCU lost 25-23 in each of Friday's 1st 2 sets, leaving hope for bounce-back day

By: Paul Coro

When Grand Canyon put the volley in volleyball, the Lopes looked up to the task of breaking up the wave Hawai'i rode into Phoenix.

But when service errors got in the way of GCU's start Friday, its controllable became its enemy. The Lopes made 11 service errors in a pair of two-point set losses, helping the Rainbow Wahine win its third consecutive sweep – a 25-23, 25-23, 25-20 victory in front of 1,425 fans at Global Credit Union Arena.

The Mountain West teams will play a rematch at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Katie Schulz

"This type of loss is pretty frustrating because, when you look at the first two sets and you miss six serves and lose by two, that can feel deflating," Lopes head coach Kendra Potts said. "But we got cleaner as we went. But when we had chances to convert the set in our favor, you can't tip against a team like Hawai'i and think you're going to trick them. We've got to stay in the green light and make sure we're swinging away.

"Our hitters have to make sure they're fighting to have stronger opportunities, regardless of set quality or situation or if we're out of system. Hawaii is one of the best defensive teams in the country. We know we're going to play long rallies, but we're up for
it."

Until the last point of the match, Hawai'i was going to hit less than .200 in every set. But the Rainbow Wahine (11-3, 3-0 MW) capitalized with clutch closes, denying GCU a lead past the 15th point of any set.

Surrendering 22% of Hawai'i scoring on missed serves in the first two sets, the Lopes (7-7, 1-2 MW) could not find offense outside of fifth-year outside hitter Starr Williams (13 kills, six coming in the third set) late in the match. The Rainbow Wahine closed out the match on a 3-0 run, adding another sweep to the pair it posted last weekend against New Mexico.

"The first thing we said in the locker room was, 'We're just so excited to get the opportunity to play them in less than 24 hours,' " GCU junior defensive specialist Natalie Guerrero said. "We've been really harping on our defense and our block, and we saw good movement with that. Now, it's rewarding ourselves with the controllable things, like serves.

"Statistically, we should've taken the dub. Turning around the sets that we lost by two points with missed serves, those are just inches. That's good news."

After having one block in the first two sets, Hawai'i delivered four in the final set and dug up 30 balls with its well-regarded defense. The Rainbow Wahine offense became more efficient with four players recording at least three third-set kills and 5-foor-10 junior setter Adrianna Arquette's jump serve providing a pair of aces.
Kendra Potts

"If teams are having to adjust because we're taking things away, then we have to figure out how to finish in the red zone," Potts said. "It was good volleyball to watch, but let's find ways to close it out."

GCU played the third set without junior middle blocker Aubrey Goodere because of injury, thrusting 6-foot-2 freshman Kaela Jenkins of Tiffin, Ohio, into a larger role.

"It's unfortunate that AG has an injury, but Kaela is capable," Potts said. "She works our starting side every day in practice. She's ready to go and we have faith in her."

After making its 10th and 11th service errors for two of Hawai'i's last three points of the second set, the Lopes only made one service error in the third set. But it put GCU in a 22-19 hole in the only set that the Lopes hit below .200.

"They're one of the best defensive teams in the conference," Guerrero said. "We're one of the most offensive teams in the conference. We're OK battling with them every set. When it gets to that red zone, 20-20, one of us has to close. It's got to be us. We're confident we can do that."