Lopes drop final matches of MPSF Rumble

Saturday, March 7

Los Angeles, Calif.

9 a.m.

Grand Canyon

Cal

Photo by: Alex Haack

3/7/2026 4:53:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

Freshman Decker claims 1st career win over Cal

By: Nathan Peters

LOS ANGELES — Grand Canyon dropped a pair of duals Saturday at Merle Norman Stadium in Los Angeles, falling 3-2 to No. 10 Cal before dropping a 5-0 decision to No. 3 USC.

The Lopes battled through multiple three-set matches throughout the day, including a milestone victory that marked freshman Jordyn Decker's first collegiate win.

Against No. 10 Cal, the dual progressed with the order of finish going 2, 4, 5, 1, 3.

Cal struck first at No. 2 before adding a three-set victory on court 4, where Mila Vugrincic and Jenna Colligan defeated Michael Wittren and Youna Coens 21-19, 17-21, 16-14.

The Lopes responded at No. 5 as sophomore Jessica Drake and Decker rallied for a 17-21, 21-16, 15-9 win over Elle Evers and Mila Yarich, giving Decker her first career victory.

Cal clinched the team win on court 1 in a tightly contested straight-set match, where Emma Donley and Portia Sherman defeated juniors Karynn Garrow and Becca Drake 26-24, 22-20.

GCU closed the dual with a point at the No. 3 pair, as Rhea Kohl and Mae Manthe earned a 21-16, 21-18 victory over Gia Fisher and Ava Haughy.

Later in the day, GCU faced No. 3 USC, with the Trojans claiming the dual 5-0 as the order of finish went 4, 2, 5, 3, 1.

USC opened the scoring on court 4 before earning a three-set victory on court 2, where Ashley Pater and Kennedy Coakley rallied past Katie Keefe and Sarah Edler 18-21, 21-15, 15-8 despite an emphatic end to the first set behind a Garrow rejection.

The Trojans clinched the dual on court 5 in another three-set match, as Kyra Zaengle and Calinda Kok defeated J. Drake and Decker 18-21, 21-16, 15-13.

The remaining matches also went the distance as USC completed the sweep. On court 3, Alana Embry and Quincy Stephens outlasted Kohl and Manthe 21-19, 16-21, 15-12, while the final match finished on court 1, where Zoey Henson and Sarah Wood defeated Garrow and Becca Drake 18-21, 21-13, 15-13.

Saturday's slate continued a demanding stretch of competition for the Lopes against elite teams, with Cal ranked No. 10 in the AVCA poll and USC sitting No. 3 nationally.

GCU will head to san Luis Obispo next weekend for four matches.