Antelopes Drop Five-Setter To Ball State

Saturday, March 10

Phoenix, AZ

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

12-9, 3-1

Ball State

11-7, 3-4

Ball State

Grand Canyon

Ben Ponnet and Jordon Tarantino combined for 31 kills in Saturday's MIVA match with Ball State.

3/10/2012 8:59:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

Grand Canyon lost its first Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association match of the season, dropping a 3-2 contest to Ball State at Antelope Gymnasium Saturday.

It was also GCU’s first loss at home this year. The Antelopes fell by set scores of 21-25, 29-27, 25-23, 23-25, 15-12 and are 12-9 overall and 3-1 in the MIVA. The ’Lopes are tied for second with defending MIVA and national champion Ohio State and one-half game behind Lewis.

Ball State improved to 11-7 and 3-4.

“It was a lot like expected,” said GCU coach Jeremy Price. “We knew Ball State was desperate and would be better tonight (than Friday). We had some opportunities and didn’t take advantage. They created themselves some opportunities and did.”

Grand Canyon led 11-10 in the fifth before the Cardinals rallied for the next four points. A kill from Taylor Griffin staved off one match point.

The Antelopes had a chance to go up two sets. Ben Ponnet, who led all attackers with 18 kills, took advantage of an overpass for a 26-25 lead, but the ’Lopes were unable to close out the set. GCU fought off three set points before losing. The set had 17 ties and five lead changes.

“We had a chance in the second set and didn’t go up 2-0. That changed the complexion of the match,” said Price.

There were at least 10 ties in each of the first four sets and 55 for the match. There were 14 ties in the fourth and four lead changes.

GCU forced a fifth set with the aid of junior hitter Jordon Tarantino, who got his most action since suffering an injury in mid-February. He had nine fourth-set kills on 12 swings with only one error. Ponnet had five kills on six tries in the set.

Tarantino finished with 13 kills and a .400 attack percentage. Middle hitter Taylor Galliano became only the second player in school history to have double-digit block assists in a single match. He had 10. The record is 11 set by Christopher Lockwood against Clarke College in 2010.

Setter Keith Smith had 53 assists, 13 digs – both match highs – and eight total blocks (one solo, seven assists).

Ponnet added four service aces.

GCU heads to the road next week for a pair of MIVA contests at IPFW Friday and Saturday.

BSU 3, GCU 2