PHOENIX – The San Diego State volleyball team wrapped up play at the GCU Invitational Saturday night, dropping a 3-0 decision (19-25, 19-25, 19-25) to Grand Canyon inside GCU Arena.
Despite knocking down just two fewer kills than the host school (40-38), the Aztecs were undone by 19 attack errors, as the Lopes owned a decisive advantage in hitting percentage, .360 to .183, while maintaining the upper hand in total blocks (6.0-2.0) and digs (35-31).
Consequently, SDSU saw its two-match winning streak snapped, falling to 6-3 on the year, while GCU moves to 8-1 overall.
For the ninth consecutive outing, Victoria O'Sullivan surpassed double figures in kills, posting a team-high 11 non-returnables while hitting .280 on the night. In addition, Hannah Turnlund blasted nine kills of her own, while Lexie Hamrick totaled seven in the loss.
The Aztecs also received another steady performance from Loren Teter, who scooped up 15 digs, while Camryn Machado (22 assists) and Gabi Peoples (10 assists) split time at the setter position.
Clinging to a slim 3-2 lead early in the first set, SDSU was unable to answer a 6-0 blitz by the Lopes, who vaulted in front for good thanks in part to kills by Sarah Hagge and Melody Horton and a Kayla Matthews service ace. With an 8-3 advantage, GCU ultimately built a series of seven-point leads, including a 20-13 spread following another Horton put-away. The Aztecs could draw no closer than five the rest of the way, as the Lopes benefited from two errant attacks down the stretch.
Conversely, GCU logged just one attack error in the whole opening set, outhitting the Scarlet and Black .406 to .231 during that span.
The Aztecs found themselves in pursuit mode for the balance of the match, falling behind 5-1 early in the second stanza. Shortly thereafter, SDSU crept to within two points at 11-9 following consecutive kills by O'Sullivan and Tamia Reeves along with a rare Lopes hitting error. However, GCU kept the visitors at bay with a timely 11-3 surge. Horton and Annabelle Kubinski registered two kills apiece during that stretch, while Emma Ahem served up a pair of aces to help widen the gap to 22-12.
O'Sullivan nearly brought the Aztecs back from oblivion with four kills during a 7-0 outburst that also featured put-aways from Turnlund and Erin Gillcrist. However, the Lopes extinguished the threat with three straight points, including the clincher on a Horton service ace.
Grand Canyon also led throughout the third set, save for a pair of early ties, jumping in front for good on a Kaira Moss kill sandwiched between two San Diego State miscues. The Lopes later upped the margin to five on two occasions, including a 15-10 score after another Moss non-returnable. A GCU service error and combined block by Gillcrist and Andrea Walker gave the Aztecs a glimmer of hope, but the hosts responded with another key 7-2 run that essentially put the match out of reach.
Horton led the Lopes with a match-high 12 kills and hit .462 on the evening, while Kubinski (.467), Moss and Yeny Murillo totaled seven put-aways each.
UP NEXT
San Diego State returns home to face Long Beach State on Thursday, Sept. 19, inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym. First serve is set for 6 p.m. PT.
GCU INVITATIONAL
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Camryn Machado, San Diego State
Isabella Scarlett, UC Riverside
Malie McClure, Eastern Washington
Klaire Mitchell, Grand Canyon
ALL-TOURNAMENT LIBERO
Teagan DeFalco, Grand Canyon
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Melody Horton, Grand Canyon
Volleyball Falls at Grand Canyon
