GCU Defeats No. 15 IPFW, 3-0

Friday, April 17

Antelope Gymnasium

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

14-15, 5-10

IPFW

17-11, 7-8

IPFW

Grand Canyon

Jon Schaefer had a match-best 13 kills and hit .321 in Friday's 3-0 victory over No. 15 IPFW.

Photo by: Darryl Webb

4/17/2015 8:40:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

For the third time this season, Grand Canyon knocked off a nationally-ranked opponent. At Antelope Gymnasium Friday, the Lopes blanked No. 15 IPFW, 3-0, by set scores of 25-23, 25-19, 25-17.

"That's a great accomplishment for us as a program," said GCU coach Jeremy Price. "We get those opportunities because it's a tough conference. Five of the nine have been ranked and four are, currently. It's a very good win."

GCU improved to 14-15 overall and 5-10 in the MIVA. IPFW dropped to 17-11 and 7-8.

The teams play again Saturday in the final regular season match for both teams. It will be Senior Night for the Lopes. They will honor outside hitter Jon Schaefer and middle blocker Keaton Berry.

The festivities for the two outgoing members of the Class of 2015 started Friday. Schaefer led all hitters with 13 kills. He was the match co-leader, with Berry, with five block assists. He also had a pair of service aces and six digs. Berry had five kills.

"Senior weekend is when you, ideally, want your seniors to shine," added Price. "Hopefully, they'll do it again tomorrow."

The Lopes hit .333 as a team, had a side-out percentage of 70, out-blocked the Mastadons 10-5 and had the advantage in service aces, 6-2.

Frosh Shalev Saada had 12 kills and Gerrard Lipscombe added 11. Lipscombe added a match-best three service aces. Saada and frosh libero Josh Phalen, who entered the match late in the first set, led in digs with eight each.

Setting up the Lopes' high-powered offense was redshirt-freshman setter Puna Kaniho, who had 44 assists, including 17 in the first set. He also had five digs, two block assists and one service ace. Middle hitter Christian Ward had six kills without an error (.600) and five total blocks, including one solo. Ward upped his season total to 113 blocks, a new single-season school mark. Ryan Mather had 112 in 2013.

The Dons hit just .138. Alex Harthaller had eight kills.

The match had 21 ties, 11 in the first set, and seven lead changes.

Earlier this season, GCU beat then-No. 11 Ohio State, 3-2, at home on Feb. 28 and then-No. 12 Ball State, 3-2, in Muncie on March 13.

Saturday's regular-season finale starts at 6 p.m. Fans unable to come can follow live stats at www.gculopes.com. Live video will not be available.

GCU 3, IPFW 0