GCU Drops 3-1 Match at No. 10 Ohio State

Friday, April 6

Columbus, OH

4 p.m.

Grand Canyon

15-14, 5-5

Ohio State

18-8, 8-3

Grand Canyon

Ohio State

Ryan Mather had 13 kills, a .524 attack percentage, four blocks and a service ace at Ohio State Friday.

4/6/2012 9:35:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

On Friday, Grand Canyon (15-14, 5-5) had a better hitting percentage, block total and digs per set than in Thursday’s 3-2 loss to defending national champion Ohio State (18-8, 8-3), but the Antelopes lost for the second straight night to the Buckeyes at St. John Arena.

GCU lost 3-1 by set scores of 25-16, 22-25, 25-19, 25-18.

“We actually played better in some ways than Thursday, but they played better and we couldn’t match their offensive efficiency,” said GCU coach Jeremy Price.

Grand Canyon hit 40 points higher (.214-.171), had four more blocks (9.5-5.5) and averaged 13.5 digs per set Friday to 12 Thursday. The Antelopes were hurt in the side-out department at 58.3 percent to Ohio State’s 72.1.

“It was a tough match. They were a little better than us tonight,” added Price.

Freshman middle hitter Ryan Mather had 13 kills on 21 swings with only two errors for a .524 hitting percentage. He also was part of four blocks, including one solo, and had a service ace.

Sophomore outside hitter Jordon Tarantino had a team-best 18 kills on 44 tries with seven errors for a .250 average. Sophomore outside hitter Ben Ponnet had 10 kills (10-6-27, .148), a team-best 11 digs, three blocks, including one solo and a service ace.

Setter Keith Smith and libero Trent Bruns each had 10 digs. Smith had 43 assists and three block assists. Senior middle Taylor Galliano had nine kills (9-4-23, .217) and was part of four blocks with one solo. He also had a service ace.

GCU’s most impressive set was the second. After nine ties and three lead changes, the Antelopes scored the final three points of the set. Smith, Ponnet and Galliano combined on a block of a Mik Berzins attack. Ponnet and Galliano ended the set with a kill each. The Antelopes trailed by as much as five, 14-9 and were down three late, 17-14. An Ohio State service error and Galliano service ace made it 17-16.

There were nine ties and three lead changes in the third set, too, but the Buckeyes scored 10 of the final 14 points, breaking away from a 15-15 tie.

Grand Canyon is in fourth place in the MIVA and wraps up the regular season at second-place Lewis (21-6, 7-3), ranked No. 9 in the nation, with two matches next weekend.

The top four teams in the conference get either a first-round home tournament match or first-round bye. The Antelopes are two games out of second place and one and one-half games behind third-place Loyola Chicago (17-11, 7-4). GCU is one-half game ahead of IPFW (12-12, 4-5) and one-game ahead of Ball State (11-9, 4-6) for the fourth spot.

OSU 3, GCU 1