Grand Canyon University Athletics
GCU spikers lose in final home match of season
3/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
The final home match of any season is usually Senior Night.
In a way, it was at Antelope Gym Monday. Even though Grand Canyon does not have anyone in the Class of 2009 and only has one (Tyson Crandell) in the Class of 2010. It was the senior-laden St. Ambrose team that defeated the first-year program Monday, 3-0.
The Lopes lost by set scores of 30-28, 30-23, 30-22.
"It's frustrating," said GCU freshman Brennan Zotovich. "You look at the chemistry. Their lineup has (10 seniors) that have played four or five years together. We're a first-year program trying to compete with them."
GCU battled back to get three late first-set ties, but the Fighting Bees came away with the game and went on to get the next two.
In the first set, Crandell (pictured) and Taylor Griffin combined for a block to tie it at 26. A Crandell kill knotted the score at 27 and Zotovich finished off an attack for a 28-28 score.
GCU (2-19) continued to battle back, but couldn't get within striking distance in the final two sets.
"It's hard. We keep telling ourselves how much we're improving, but we're not getting the wins to go with it," added Zotovich. "That's why it's frustrating."
Zotovich led the Lopes with 11 kills and a .412 attack percentage. Freshman Mikel Meador had 10 kills. Crandell and Griffin each had nine. Chris Bradshaw had 39 assists. Kyle Norton and Robbie Echols had eight digs each. Crandell had two service aces.
"It's a little disappointing," said GCU coach Chad Speer. "We competed against them, but you always want to win when you have an opportunity. We didn't come up (with the points) in certain situations and we had trouble blocking their middle."
It was the final of four home matches this season. Speer and the team were very happy with the support both vocally and in numbers.
"We had great crowds every night," said Speer. "People kept coming back and it was nice to play at home."
GCU is off until a five-match trip in Florida from March 20-22. The Lopes will take on Lees-McRae for the third time this season along with Missouri Baptist, Cardinal Stritch, Fontbonne and Warner Southern.
