Lopes outlast Drake in 5th set

Friday, September 12

Lincoln, Neb.

12:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

6-1,0-0Mountain West

Drake

3-4,0-0MVC

Grand Canyon

Drake

Photo by: Nathan Peters

9/12/2025 4:35:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

GCU to play No. 1 Nebraska on Saturday in Lincoln

By: Nathan Peters

LINCOLN, Neb. – Grand Canyon improved to 6–1 on the season with a gritty, five-set victory over Drake, winning 25–23, 25–16, 23–25, 25–27, 15–9 on Friday at Bob Devaney Sports Center.

The Lopes surged ahead early, taking the first two sets before Drake battled back to even the match. GCU showed resilience in the decisive fifth set, hitting .250 to close out the Bulldogs and earn coach Kendra Potts her 150th career win as a head coach.

"We knew Drake was going to be a really good team and we expected that," Lopes head coach Kendra Potts said. "They weren't going to let themselves get swept, and it turned into a game of runs. As much as I hated it when we were the ones being run on, it was competitive volleyball and fun to be part of."

Grand Canyon totaled 56 kills while holding Drake to a .091 hitting percentage. Graduate outside hitter Sophia Parlanti led the Lopes with 15 kills and three blocks, continuing her role as a steady offensive option.

"Parlanti is starting to put together a string of matches that show this is who she is," Potts said. "She's thoughtful in how she adjusts, and I love how free she plays and the energy she brings."

The Lopes also leaned on balanced production from senior outside hitter Anaelena Ramirez (12 kills), freshman setter/opposite Bella Nunez (22 assists, 20 digs, nine kills and six blocks) and graduate middle blocker Hayden Goodman (nine blocks, five kills)

Potts noted the team's growth in handling pressure moments.

"One thing we're learning is to be okay with the time it takes to make a run or reset in serve receive," Potts said. "We want to fix things so fast, but sometimes you just have to battle through until the point is finished."

The Lopes benefited from multiple runs that helped them win the match, including a 7-1 second-set start and a 5-0 fifth-set run. Like closing out a first-set win from a 23-23 tie, GCU put away the match after Drake got as close as 12-9 in the fifth set. The Lopes won the final three points with Parlanti putting away the winning kill on a sophomore setter Taylor Kubacak's assist.

Sophomore defensive specialist Hunter West played well in a homecoming match. The native of Wausa, Nebraska, was responsible for multiple runs of service pressure.

Drake (3-4) was led by Macy Daufeldt with 14 kills and 16 digs. Setter Addison Beagle tallied 24 assists and libero Gabbie Schroeder added 20 digs.

The Lopes will take on No. 1 Nebraska on Saturday at 4 p.m. (Phoenix time) in the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The match will be streamed on B1G+.

For Potts, playing at Nebraska fits into GCU's broader vision of high-level competition. The Cornhuskers have reached the NCAA Final Four in three of the past four seasons.

"We scheduled this for a reason: we want to compete in these environments," Potts said. "We respect this program so much, but we also want to test what we're capable of."