Completed Event: Women's Tennis versus Saint Mary's on February 28, 2026 , Win , 4, to, 0
W Tennis
vs Saint Mary's
W 4-0
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Tyler Killgore
Lopes sweep California weekend with pair of wins
2/2/2026 5:39:00 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.
The Lopes pulled off a 4-3 win at Long Beach State on Saturday before getting at 5-2 victory at Cal State 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.
Lopes sophomore Bella Crossman evened the dual match by beating Diana De Simone of Long Beach State 6-0, 6-1.
Sophomore Peyton Duckett also got the job done on Court 6 to put GCU ahead 2-1 with her 6-4, 6-1 win.
Long Beach State bounced back, however, winning on Courts 3 and 4 to be one more match from winning the team dual.
GCU sophomore Karina Hofbauer and senior Dania Deaifi had other plans.
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 Deaifi with the dual tied at 3-3.
Deaifi battled to a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win in order to clinch the Lopes' first road win of the season in comeback fashion.
"Proud of our team's performance this weekend to come away with two wins in our first away matches away of the season" GCU head coach Dané Vorster said.
"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.
The Lopes continued to ride the momentum Sunday at Cal State Fullerton, beating the Titans handily 5-2.
In doubles play, Deaifi and Crossman defeated Fullerton's Emilie Lugon-Moulin and Chloe Schwarz 6-2.
On Court 2, Hofbauer and sophomore Gala Arangio secured the doubles point, also winning 6-2 for the duo's first victory on the season.
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.
After dropping a 6-4 set, Crossman won the next two sets 6-1, 6-4 to secure the dual match and a second-road win for the Lopes.
Play continued as Arangio picked up another come-from-behind win to finish the day (6-4, 6-7, 10-7).
"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.
The Lopes head to Dallas to take on 4-1 SMU on Friday.
The Lopes pulled off a 4-3 win at Long Beach State on Saturday before getting at 5-2 victory at Cal State 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.
Lopes sophomore Bella Crossman evened the dual match by beating Diana De Simone of Long Beach State 6-0, 6-1.
Sophomore Peyton Duckett also got the job done on Court 6 to put GCU ahead 2-1 with her 6-4, 6-1 win.
Long Beach State bounced back, however, winning on Courts 3 and 4 to be one more match from winning the team dual.
GCU sophomore Karina Hofbauer and senior Dania Deaifi had other plans.
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 Deaifi with the dual tied at 3-3.
Deaifi battled to a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win in order to clinch the Lopes' first road win of the season in comeback fashion.
"Proud of our team's performance this weekend to come away with two wins in our first away matches away of the season" GCU head coach Dané Vorster said.
"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.
The Lopes continued to ride the momentum Sunday at Cal State Fullerton, beating the Titans handily 5-2.
In doubles play, Deaifi and Crossman defeated Fullerton's Emilie Lugon-Moulin and Chloe Schwarz 6-2.
On Court 2, Hofbauer and sophomore Gala Arangio secured the doubles point, also winning 6-2 for the duo's first victory on the season.
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.
After dropping a 6-4 set, Crossman won the next two sets 6-1, 6-4 to secure the dual match and a second-road win for the Lopes.
Play continued as Arangio picked up another come-from-behind win to finish the day (6-4, 6-7, 10-7).
"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.
The Lopes head to Dallas to take on 4-1 SMU on Friday.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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