Lopes Pick Up Fourth Straight With Sweep Of Barton

Saturday, March 7

Antelope Gymnasium

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

11-7

Barton

9-12

Barton

Grand Canyon

Coach Jeremy Price's GCU men's volleyball team won for the fourth straight time Saturday.

Photo by: Darryl Webb

3/7/2015 3:08:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

Grand Canyon won its fourth straight and improved to 11-7 on the season with a 3-0 victory over Barton at Antelope Gymnasium Saturday.

GCU won by set scores of 25-13, 25-21, 25-23. Barton dropped to 9-12.

"It was nice to get a three-set win," said GCU coach Jeremy Price. "After playing two matches yesterday, we played a different lineup and I was fairly pleased how we looked offensively."

The Lopes hit .300, had nine service aces and led in blocks 8-5.5. GCU held the Bulldogs to just a .122 hitting average and had one more dig, 30-29, than the visitors.

"Defensively, I was pleased with how we served and blocked," added Price. "It's not a large number of blocks, but I thought we blocked well. Anytime you get nine aces in three sets you're happy."

Tanner Maxwell had 12 kills and hit .417. He added three of GCU's nine service aces and was part of three blocks. Freshman Shalev Saada had a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs and led the team with four service aces. Sean Saxton was the leading blocker with four, including one solo.

Jon Schaefer added five kills and five digs. Keaton Berry had four kills and three blocks. Libero Sky Engleman had seven digs and three assists. Setter Puna Kaniho had 31 assists and one service ace.

The Lopes hit the road and return to Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association action next weekend at Ball State. The teams play next Friday and Saturday, both matches start at 4:30 p.m., Arizona time.

"We've won four straight, which is great, but when the whistle blows Friday night, it's not going to matter. It is good to go into a four-match road trip with some success," said Price.

After the trip to Muncie, Ind., against the Cardinals, GCU travels to Chicago to take on No. 1 and defending national champion, Loyola, March 18-19. Both matches start at 5 p.m., Arizona time.

GCU 3, BC 0