GCU Suffers Tough Five-Set Loss To UCSD

Friday, February 28

San Diego, CA

8 p.m.

Grand Canyon

6-10

UC San Diego

1-15

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Grand Canyon	28	25	20	25	6	2
UC San Diego	30	17	25	16	15	3

Connor Dougherty had 12 kills, hit .556 and added eight block assists and two service aces at UCSD Friday.

Photo by: Darryl Webb

2/28/2014 11:54:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

In its eighth five-set match of the season, Grand Canyon lost 3-2 to UC San Diego at RIMAC Arena in La Jolla, Calif., Friday.

The Antelopes (6-10) forced a fifth set with a 25-16 fourth-set win, but dropped the finale 15-6. After 15 ties and six lead changes, GCU lost a heartbreaker in the opener, 30-28. It bounced back to win the second 25-17 and lost the third 25-20.

GCU had one set-point in the first and survived three of the Tritons' before dropping the opener, and led 19-18 in third.

"That first set killed us," said GCU coach Jeremy Price. "It's a very disappointing loss. We have to finish sets when we get the opportunity."

GCU is 4-4 in the five-setters.

Both teams had 55 kills. GCU hit .212 and UCSD hit .177. Both teams had four service aces. The Antelopes had 17 service errors to the Tritons 16. GCU had more digs (56-51) and blocks (12.5-7).

"We out-did them in everything but what mattered most," added Price.

Senior middle blocker Connor Dougherty hit .556 with 12 kills on 18 swings with just two errors. He had eight block assists and two service aces. Senior outside hitter Ben Ponnet had a double-double with a match-best 19 kills to go with 13 digs and added three block assists. In his first start as an outside hitter, Tanner Maxwell had seven kills, nine digs and five block assists.

Libero Jared Morrison had a team-high15 digs, while setter Keith Smith had 44 assists to go with eight digs, five block assists, three kills and a service ace.

The Antelopes travel to Fullerton, Calif. for a 5 p.m. (Arizona time) Saturday match against Hope International. GCU beat the Royals 3-2 in Phoenix on Jan. 26. Fans can follow live links to Saturday's match at www.gculopes.com.

UCSD 3, GCU 2