GCU improves to 8-3 with win over NJIT

Saturday, February 6

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

7-3

NJIT

0-7

NJIT

Grand Canyon

2/6/2016 8:00:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Samantha Fell

Phoenix, AZ – The Lopes improved to 8-3 on the season after a victory over New Jersey Institute of Technology on Saturday, Feb. 6. For the second time this weekend, GCU defeated the Highlanders in four sets. Grand Canyon won by scores of 25-23, 25-18, 24-26, and 29-27.

After knocking down 20 kills on Friday night, Gerrard Lipscombe again led the Lopes with 17 kills for the match. The outside hitter added 4 aces, 4 digs, and 3 blocks, filling up the stat sheet in nearly every category.

Christian Ward also had a big night for GCU from his middle hitting position. The senior had 10 kills on 13 attempts for a .692 attack percentage. He also led the team in blocking with 7 for the night.

Head coach Matt Werle noted the importance of team passing in order to set up the attack from the middle.

"NJIT is a good serving team and we had to fight off some hard driven jump serves," Werle noted. "Because of our passing, we were able to produce better numbers attacking out of the middle. Christian played a well-rounded match tonight, attacking and blocking."

Freshman Will Schwob came up big for the Lopes towards the end of the match. He knocked down 9 kills and added 4 blocks and 5 digs. Shalev Saada and Ashton King each added 8 kills as well. Setter Michael Milstein dished out a game-high 50 assists.

Next up, GCU will resume MIVA conference play and host Quincy University. The Lopes are 1-1 in the MIVA after splitting matches with then No. 13 Lewis University.

"We know that the conference road ahead is going to be a grind," Werle said. "We will need to come ready to compete day in and day out."

Grand Canyon will face off with Quincy on Friday, Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. and again on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. Both matches will be played in Antelope Gym.