Lopes split matches in 1st day of Mustang Roundup

Friday, March 13

San Luis Obispo, Calif.

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Santa Clara

Photo by: Brayden Stenner

3/13/2026 9:29:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

GCU to face UC Davis, CSUN on Saturday in San Luis Obispo

By: Nathan Peters

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — No. 17 Grand Canyon split two Friday matches at Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex, opening with a 4-1 win over Santa Clara before falling 5-0 to No. 4 Cal Poly.

Against Santa Clara, the Lopes (8-9) secured the dual with four pair victories, beginning with a straight-set win from junior Rhea Kohl and sophomore Mae Manthe at the No. 3 pair, 21-12, 21-15.

GCU juniors Karynn Garrow and Becca Drake followed with a 21-19, 21-19 win at the No. 1 pair, and Jordyn Decker and Youna Coens added another straight-set victory at the No. 5 pair, 21-16, 21-19.

Lopes senior Katie Keefe and junior Sarah Edler clinched the dual for GCU with a three-set comeback at Court 2, rebounding from a first-set loss to win 16-21, 21-9, 15-11.

Santa Clara's lone point came at the No. 4 pair, where Alexandra Urbina and Ciara Cantlen defeated GCU senior Jessica Drake and junior Isabelle Tucker, 12-21, 22-20, 15-13. Despite the loss, the match marked Tucker's Lopes debut after dealing with injuries in the first half of the season.

In the afternoon matchup, Cal Poly claimed a 5-0 victory over the Lopes despite several competitive flights.

The Mustangs secured the dual with straight-set wins at the top three courts to clinch the match early.

GCU pushed the remaining two courts to deciding sets, including the No. 5 pair of Drake and sophomore Grace Goudy, who split the first two sets before falling 21-19, 15-21, 15-7.

Lopes freshman Jordyn Decker and sophomore Youna Coens also forced three sets at the No. 4 pair, taking the opening set 21-19 before Cal Poly rallied for a 21-11, 15-11 finish.

The Lopes will take on UC Davis at 11:15 a.m. Phoenix time on Saturday before facing CSU Northridge at 3 p.m. Phoenix time to close out the weekend.