Lopes split Senior Day in promising showings

Friday, February 20

Phoenix, Ariz.

9 a.m.

Grand Canyon

Colorado Mesa

Photo by: Brayden Stenner

2/20/2026 7:52:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

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Final matches of weekend pit host GCU vs. ASU, Arizona on Saturday

By: Nathan Peters

Grand Canyon opened the 2026 beach volleyball season with a split, winning 4-1 against Colorado Mesa before falling 4-1 to defending national champion and fifth-ranked TCU on Friday at GCU Beach Volleyball Stadium.

The morning dual against Colorado Mesa also served as Senior Day for Lope seniors Katie Keefe and Jessica Drake.

The Lopes secured points on Flights 1, 2, 3 and 5, with the Lopes closing on three consecutive wins.

Keefe and sophomore Youna Coens picked up a hard-fought win on Flight 1, while juniors Karynn Garrow and Becca Drake set the tone with a straight-sets victory on Flight 2. GCU junior Rhea Kohl and sophomore Mae Manthe delivered another point on Flight 3 to set up clinching the dual when sophomore Michael Wittren and junior Sarah Edler won a decisive straight-sets win on Flight 5. Colorado Mesa's lone point came on Flight 4.

On Friday night, Grand Canyon faced a major test against TCU, the reigning national champion. The Horned Frogs 4-1 win's order of finish in the dual was Flights 4, 2, 5, 3, and 1.

Wittren and Edler accounted for the Lopes' point with a straight-sets victory on Flight 5 that cut TCU's lead to 2-1. Other flights were tightly contested, including three-set matches that pushed the Horned Frogs deep into each pairing before TCU secured the overall decision.

GCU continues its opening weekend on Friday with two in-state matchups, facing No. 11 Arizona State at 11:30 a.m. before closing the day against Arizona at 4:30 p.m.