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Grand Canyon University Athletics
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Lopes sweep California weekend with pair of wins
2/2/2026 5:39:00β―PM | Women's Tennis
GCU completed comeback in Long Beach before dominating in Fullerton
The Grand Canyon women's tennis won twice in California this weekend to extend their winning streak to three games.
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The Lopes pulled off a 4-3 win at Long Beach State on Saturday before getting at 5-2 victory at Cal StateΒ Fullerton on Sunday.
GCU (3-2) started the trip in Long Beach, where they would play a battle-tested team. The Lopes started off by losing the doubles point on Courts 1 and 2 before heading to singles.
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Lopes sophomore Bella Crossman evened the dual match by beating Diana De Simone of Long Beach State 6-0, 6-1.
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Sophomore Peyton Duckett also got the job done on Court 6 to put GCU ahead 2-1 with her 6-4, 6-1 win.
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Long Beach State bounced back, however, winning on Courts 3 and 4 to be one more match from winning the team dual.
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GCU sophomore Karina Hofbauer and senior Dania Deaifi had other plans.
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Hofbauer, the Lopes' No. 1 player, won her court in three sets (6-4, 2-6, 6-4), leaving it all up to the experienced DeaifiΒ with the dual tied at 3-3.
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DeaifiΒ battled to aΒ 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win in order to clinch the Lopes' first road win of the season in comeback fashion.
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"Proud of our team's performance this weekend to come away with two wins in our first away matches away ofΒ the season" GCU head coach Dané Vorster said.
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"We fought well as a united and hungry team to get the deciding point and win over Long Beach, who was a nationally ranked team last season," Vorster said.
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The Lopes continued to ride the momentum Sunday at Cal State Fullerton, beating the Titans handily 5-2.
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In doubles play, Deaifi and Crossman defeated Fullerton's Emilie Lugon-Moulin and Chloe Schwarz 6-2.
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On Court 2, Hofbauer and sophomore Gala Arangio secured the doubles point, also winning 6-2 for the duo's first victoryΒ on the season.
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Hofbauer won 6-2, 6-4 in the first singles match on Court 1 just as Duckett took over her court, winning 7-5, 6-1.
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After dropping a 6-4 set, Crossman wonΒ the next two sets 6-1, 6-4 to secure the dual matchΒ and a second-road win for the Lopes.
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Play continued as Arangio picked up another come-from-behind win to finish the dayΒ (6-4, 6-7, 10-7).
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"These wins give us the confidence we wanted heading into this week's match against SMU in Dallas, another strong opponent on our schedule we are excited for," Vorster said.
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The Lopes head to Dallas to take on 4-1 SMU on Friday.
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The Lopes pulled off a 4-3 win at Long Beach State on Saturday before getting at 5-2 victory at Cal StateΒ Fullerton on Sunday.
GCU (3-2) started the trip in Long Beach, where they would play a battle-tested team. The Lopes started off by losing the doubles point on Courts 1 and 2 before heading to singles.
Β
Lopes sophomore Bella Crossman evened the dual match by beating Diana De Simone of Long Beach State 6-0, 6-1.
Β
Sophomore Peyton Duckett also got the job done on Court 6 to put GCU ahead 2-1 with her 6-4, 6-1 win.
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Long Beach State bounced back, however, winning on Courts 3 and 4 to be one more match from winning the team dual.
Β
GCU sophomore Karina Hofbauer and senior Dania Deaifi had other plans.
Β
Hofbauer, the Lopes' No. 1 player, won her court in three sets (6-4, 2-6, 6-4), leaving it all up to the experienced DeaifiΒ with the dual tied at 3-3.
Β
DeaifiΒ battled to aΒ 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win in order to clinch the Lopes' first road win of the season in comeback fashion.
Β
"Proud of our team's performance this weekend to come away with two wins in our first away matches away ofΒ the season" GCU head coach Dané Vorster said.
Β
"We fought well as a united and hungry team to get the deciding point and win over Long Beach, who was a nationally ranked team last season," Vorster said.
Β
The Lopes continued to ride the momentum Sunday at Cal State Fullerton, beating the Titans handily 5-2.
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In doubles play, Deaifi and Crossman defeated Fullerton's Emilie Lugon-Moulin and Chloe Schwarz 6-2.
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On Court 2, Hofbauer and sophomore Gala Arangio secured the doubles point, also winning 6-2 for the duo's first victoryΒ on the season.
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Hofbauer won 6-2, 6-4 in the first singles match on Court 1 just as Duckett took over her court, winning 7-5, 6-1.
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After dropping a 6-4 set, Crossman wonΒ the next two sets 6-1, 6-4 to secure the dual matchΒ and a second-road win for the Lopes.
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Play continued as Arangio picked up another come-from-behind win to finish the dayΒ (6-4, 6-7, 10-7).
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"These wins give us the confidence we wanted heading into this week's match against SMU in Dallas, another strong opponent on our schedule we are excited for," Vorster said.
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The Lopes head to Dallas to take on 4-1 SMU on Friday.
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Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Monday, September 14
Thursday, April 23
Monday, April 21