GCU extends winning streak to four games with win over Quincy

Friday, February 12

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

9-3

Quincy

5-10

Quincy

Grand Canyon

GCU extends winning streak to four games with win over Quincy

2/12/2016 8:12:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Steven Gonazlez

PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon men's volleyball team was back at home for the second straight weekend as they hosted Quincy for two matches starting on Friday. The Lopes made it four wins in a row as they took down the Hawks 3-1. GCU is now 9-3 this season.

"We had a lot of new players receive playing time tonight and I was pleased with our offensive numbers we put up," head coach Matt Werle said. "I am very disappointed in our right-side block and it needs to improve heading into tomorrow's match."

The Lopes got off to a quick start in the first set as they held Quincy to a .031 hitting percentage in the first set. Four Lopes recorded kills in the first set led by Luke Turner with five and GCU was able to cruise to a 25-17 victory.

If GCU wanted to come away with the second set they would have to do it with a comeback as they trailed 14-9. Werle called a timeout as his team regrouped and rallied to make a run. GCU would end up taking the second set 26-24 led by Turner with six kills and Will Schwob provided a spark with five kills. After a slow start, GCU picked up its offensive attack in the latter part of the second set recording a .519 hitting percentage.

"(Quincy) started to struggle with the float serve so we wanted to keep using that approach," Werle said. "We have to continue to apply pressure throughout the entire match and not just in spurts."

Quincy avoided the sweep by taking the third set 25-20 and would carry the momentum into the fourth set by taking an early 4-1 lead. The Hawks and the Lopes went back-and-forth to start the fourth set and the Lopes finally took the lead 19-18 after GCU was able to force an error. From then on, GCU never relinquished the lead and Schwob sealed the win with a kill to take the fourth set, 25-21.

GCU limited its mistakes on the court with 10 attack errors compared to Quincy's 24 and the Lopes ended the game with a .379 hitting percentage while the Hawks recorded a .283 hitting percentage.

"We have to scrap for every point," Werle said his message will be to the team heading into tomorrow's match against the Hawks. "We are trying to treat every single point like match point and at times we got a little bit lazy tonight. We have to buy in more as a back row."

The Lopes will close out their two-match homestand against the Hawks tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Antelope Gymnasium.