LOS ANGELES – Sixth-ranked Grand Canyon beach volleyball moved to 3-1 after winning 3-2 against No. 14 Long Beach State before taking a 3-2 loss to host No. 4 USC on Friday.

GCU wrapped up Long Beach early, as senior Abbie Hughes and sophomore Samaya Morin finished first (21-19, 21-11), senior Anaya Evans and graduate Cami Sanchez followed (21-18, 26-24), and juniors Allison Hansen and Allanis Navas clinched (21-18, 26-24) the match before Courts 3 and 5 completed play. 

Meanwhile, it wasn't over until the last ball hit the sand against two-time defending national champion USC; although Hughes and Morin (21-19, 21-11) and Evans and Sanchez (21-18, 26-24) finished first. The Trojans kept it interesting on Courts 3 and 5 to even the score before defeating Hansen and Navas (21-17, 21-17) for the dual win.

The Lopes travel to Tampa next weekend for matches against Georgia State (7 a.m., Phoenix time) and Tampa (9 a.m.) on March 3 and Stetson (6 a.m.) and Florida State (10 a.m.) on March 4. 

GCU 3, Long Beach State 2

    1. Allison HANSEN/Allanis NAVAS (GCU) def. Christine DEROOS/Mari MOLINA (LBSU); 21-17, 21-17
    2. Abbie HUGHES/Samaya MORIN (GCU) def. Sydney STEVENS/Julia WESTBY (LBSU); 21-19, 21-11
    3. Malia GEMENTERA/Taylor HAGENAH (LBSU) def. Dana ROSKIC/Krista ROWAN (GCU); 21-13, 22-20
    4. Anaya EVANS/Cami SANCHEZ (GCU) def. Emily MATTOON/Megan WIDENER (LBSU); 21-18, 26-24
    5. Natalie GLENN/Maggie WALTERS (LBSU) def. Jessica DRAKE/Mackenzie HARRIS (GCU); 19-21, 23-21, 15-11
 

USC 3, GCU 3

    1. Megan KRAFT/Delaynie MAPLE (USC) def. Allison HANSEN/Allanis NAVAS (GCU); 21-18, 21-14
    2. Abbie HUGHES/Samaya MORIN (GCU) def. Audrey NOURSE/Nicole NOURSE (USC); 21-19, 21-12
    3. Madison SHIELDS/Madison WHITE (USC) def. Dana ROSKIC/Krista ROWAN (GCU); 21-15, 21-19
    4. Anaya EVANS/Cami SANCHEZ (GCU) def. Olivia BAKOS/Gabby WALKER (USC); 21-15, 21-19
    5. Delaney KARL/Ashlyn RASNICK-POPE (USC) def. Jessica DRAKE/Mackenzie HARRIS (GCU); 21-9, 21-19