Lopes fight but fall at UCLA

Friday, March 16

Los Angeles, Calif.

7 P.M.

Grand Canyon

15-7, 2-5

UCLA

19-5, 7-2

Grand Canyon

UCLA

3/16/2018 10:18:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

GCU loses first leg of California road trip in four sets

By: Alex Nash

LOS ANGELES – Grand Canyon men's volleyball dropped the first match of the California road trip on Friday night, falling to No. 4 UCLA in four sets. Set scores were 15-25, 20-25, 25-22 and 21-25. GCU moves to 15-7 on the year and 2-5 in conference while UCLA improves to 19-5, 7-2.

The Lopes notched 45 kills and three aces while hitting at a .205 mark to go along with five blocks and 35 digs. The Bruins led in every category including 16 blocks and a .345 hitting percentage.

Will Schwob was the leader on the night, posting his second double-double of the year with 14 kills and 10 digs to go along with a team-high .367 hitting percentage. Cullen Mosher was the other Lope with double-digit kills, recording 13 in addition to seven digs. Trevor Weary started the second set and finished the match with eight kills, six digs and split the blocking lead with Caleb Blazer, recording three each. Zachary Melcher took over setter duties and had 27 assists, adding three kills.

After UCLA took the first set by 10 points thanks to a .450 hitting percentage the Lopes responded with their best hitting set of the night. However, the second set was also the Bruins most efficient of the night posting a .565 percentage.

Down two sets, GCU's comeback attempt was on. Like the two prior, the third set started out a battle, with both sides within two points. Lopes trailed 6-8 until a Schwob kill started a 5-0 run, flipping the script and putting GCU on top by three. The lead stayed until UCLA fought back to tie it up, 21 all. Schwob started another rally with a kill, followed by a block from Weary and Ashton King. Two points and a UCLA service error later, GCU took the set 25-22 and brought the match within one.

The Lopes carried momentum over into the fourth set, taking an 8-6 lead after a Melcher kill and looked to tie the match. UCLA responded with a five point run of their own, taking the lead and momentum back. GCU came within three thanks to consecutive errors and a Blazer kill but it would not be enough as the Bruins took the set 22-25 and ultimately the match.

Looking ahead

The road trip continues with a quick turnaround as GCU will take on No. 7 Pepperdine in Malibu on Saturday at 5 p.m. (MST). The Lopes mounted a reverse sweep after being down 0-2 in the last match against the Waves in Phoenix for their first ever MPSF win.