Five sets put Lopes back on track

Saturday, February 24

Los Angeles, Calif.

8 P.M.

Grand Canyon

12-6, 2-4MPSF

USC

4-12, 1-5MPSF

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Grand Canyon	25	20	25	20	15	3
USC	21	25	23	25	12	2

2/24/2018 11:04:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

GCU end So. Cal trip with first ever MPSF road victory

By: Alex Nash

LOS ANGELES – GCU got back in the win column earning their first ever MPSF road win on Saturday night in a five-set thriller against USC. Set scores were 25-21, 20-25, 25-23, 20-25 and 15-12. GCU snaps a four match losing streak and improves their record to 12-6 while USC falls to 4-12.

The story of the match can be found within the set scores. Both sides refused to give in, trading sets until GCU came out on top. GCU led the Trojans in hitting percentage by a small margin but had a major advantage in blocks, 20.5 compared to 13. USC led in kills and digs by 10 each.

Ashton King has been a staple on the Lopes defense, but showed his versatility tonight shining on both sides of the net. The middle blocker led all players with 17 kills on a .583 hitting mark to go along with six digs and nine blocks, two coming solo. Shalev Saada also netted double-digit kills with 13, adding two digs and three blocks. True freshman Trevor Weary earned his second start in as many nights on the way to five kills, five digs and seven total blocks. The attacked was paced by Puna Kaniho who had 45 assists to go with an ace, five digs and three blocks.

Much like the last two matches, the first set started off deadlocked. GCU led throughout the beginning but USC went on a 3-0 run bringing the score to 15 apiece. The Lopes responded with a run of their own led by back-to-back King kills forcing a Trojan timeout. From there the visitors would sustain a lead thanks to a Cody Williams ace and a big triple-block by way of King, Williams and Will Scwhob. USC attempted a comeback but it fell short thanks to a service error and GCU would take the set 25-21.

The second set saw USC attack early and often, jumping out to a quick 3-6 lead and would not look back. GCU would come within two points, score reading 8-10 but the Trojans used a 6-0 run that would secure the set, going on to tie the match.

Set number three looked to have the same outcome as the second with USC jumping out to a 3-7 lead. However, the Lopes responded in a big way, scoring the next four points thanks to a Schwob ace and a couple of Trojan errors. Each team would go on runs, building leads, losing them and responding until the Trojans increased their margin to 17-21. The Lopes stayed focused and used a triple-block and back-to-back aces from Cullen Mosher to score eight of the next 10 points and lock up the set 25-23.

The fourth set was the inverse of the previous, this time GCU jumping out to a 4-0 lead and USC closing the gap, tying the set 15-15. The Trojans used two four point runs to propel them to a 20-25 set win forcing a fifth.

The Lopes set the tone for the final set, going up 3-0 and were determined not to give up the lead. Like most of the match the set was won up-close with key blocks from Blazer, Mosher and King. Up 11-8 Zachary Melcher came in and made his mark on the match, teaming up with Blazer for a block before landing a kill, halting a USC run. GCU called a timeout up 14-12 to regroup and it paid off with a strong King kill from the middle, securing the set and match.

Looking ahead

The Lopes will take a week off before welcoming Mount Olive and Menlo College to Antelope Gym, March 8-10. GCU will play three matches in three days, first facing Menlo before a back-to-back tilt with Mount Olive. All matches are set to start at 6 p.m. (MST).