Errors plague GCU in loss to Ball State

Wednesday, March 1

Muncie, IN

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

9-8,5-4MIVA

Ball State

14-4, 6-3MIVA

Grand Canyon

Ball State

3/1/2017 7:38:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Samantha Fell

MUNCIE, IND. – Three days after nearly pulling an upset on the best team in the country, the GCU men's volleyball team was unable to match the same intensity and lost a three-set match to No. 11 Ball State on Wednesday evening. The Lopes were defeated by scores of 25-21, 25-10, and 25-21 and their record falls to 9-8 for the season.

Grand Canyon had a tough time from the start of the match. The Lopes quickly fell behind 7-2 in the first set and never gained the lead. Offensively, GCU tallied eight kills in the set, a game high, and were led by three kills each from Matthew Kinnebrew and Shalev Saada.

The struggles continued in Set 2 as Ball State again got out to an early lead, up 9-3, and never looked back. Grand Canyon committed 14 attacking errors during the set and struggled to earn side outs.

The Lopes rallied back in the third set to take a 12-11 lead over Ball State. Attacking woes then struck GCU again as the Cardinals regained the lead and went on to win the set, and the match, by a score of 25-21.

GCU will play for a better result tomorrow night as the Lopes face Ball State again at 6 p.m. MST.