PHOENIX – The Idaho volleyball team (0-4) fell in three sets to Grand Canyon (3-1), 19-25, 22-25, 20-25, Friday night at GCU Arena.
"Tonight we showed great organizational improvement, our block and defense were better connected and we were able manufacture great opportunities in transition," Idaho head coach
Chris Gonzalez said. "Clearly not where we want to be, or the result we prefer, but significant improvement from week one. We have two more chances against quality teams tomorrow."
Offensively, freshman
Taryn Vrieling led the squad with 10 kills on a .435 kill percentage. She has now recorded double-digit kills in the three of her first four games to begin her collegiate career. Junior
Delaney Nicoll was also a focal point, pitching in nine kills.
Setter
Kate Doorn logged her second match of at least 20 or more assists, as she posted a season-high 25 to lead Idaho.
Aine Doty,
Delaney Nicoll and
Olivia Gloeckner each pitched in seven digs apiece on the outing.
In the opening set, Idaho rallied off five straight points to set up an early 6-3 lead. GCU evened the score at 8-8 as each team would go on to trade leads throughout the set until the Lopes grabbed a 21-18 advantage. A 4-0 run helped earn Grand Canyon a 25-19 opening set victory.
Set two saw the Vandals jump out to another early advantage, as Idaho led 11-6. GCU tied the score at 11-11 with a 5-0 run before UI recaptured their advantage after a kill from
Travel Morris. Two kills by the GCU attack made it 13-12, as the Lopes led the rest of the way to eventually take the second frame by a 25-22 count.
In the third frame, Grand Canyon held an early 6-2 edge. The Lopes never trailed and eventually took set three 25-20 to clinch the match.
For the Lopes, Megan Taflinger helped deliver a balanced GCU attack, finishing the match with 13 kills, while Klaire Mitchell led the team in assists with 24.
UP NEXT: The Vandals return back tomorrow for two games against Wyoming (10 a.m.) and Santa Clara (4:30 p.m.) to finish out their weekend at the GCU classic.
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