Thrilling win starts home slate

Friday, January 11

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 P.M.

Grand Canyon

2-2

Benedictine

0-1

Benedictine Mesa

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Gillian Rea

1/11/2019 8:50:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

Lopes rally to defeat Benedictine in 5 sets

By: Alex Nash

Grand Canyon men's volleyball kicked off its home campaign in exciting fashion Friday night by taking down Benedictine in five sets in front of more than 1,400 fans at Antelope Gym.

The Lopes (2-2) trailed after three sets but won 25-11, 23-25, 19-25, 29-25 and 17-15.

GCU started and ended the match hot while last year's NAIA national runner-up Benedictine (0-1) kept everyone on the edge of their seats by taking the second and third sets. The two sides were close in every aspect but, in the end, GCU had the edge in kills (54), assists (51), blocks (17) and digs (47). The Lopes hit at a .238 mark while limiting the Redhawks to just .101.

Senior opposite Will Schwob was GCU's offensive catalyst, leading with 17 kills and adding eight digs. Freshman outside Christian Janke continued his impressive start to the season, recording the first double-double with 15 kills and 10 digs in addition to an ace. Onur Cukur and Tanner Petchul split the setter role and helped power the attack with 23 and 22 assists, respectively. The middles had another strong showing at the net on Friday with junior Caleb Blazer collecting nine blocks and one solo while senior Alex Shmelev added seven more. Freshman libero Cole Udall earned his first double-digit dig effort with a match-high 14.

The first set was arguably one of GCU's most impressive outings of the season. The Lopes hit .429 while holding Benectine to a -.065 mark. The set was tied at 1-1 but there was no doubt after that. Schwob stepped up to the service line with a three-point lead and left with the Lopes leading by nine after kills by himself, Janke and Shmelev were capped with a triple-block from Cukur, Shmelev and Jack Burton. Benedictine put together scoring runs but it was a 5-0 GCU swing that ended the set at 25-11.

The Redhawks showed why they are ranked No. 2 in the NAIA, coming out swinging in the second set. GCU still out-hit the visitors .381 to .280 but the scrappy play kept the set out of the Lopes' reach. There were 16 ties, leading up to a 23-23 deadlock after a Benedictine service error. GCU committed a blocking error and the Redhawks used a successful block to tie the match after two sets.

After the third set was tied 7-7, Benedictine used three consecutive points to take the lead and didn't look back. GCU hit -.032 and feel behind 2-1 after a 25-19 third-set loss.

Changes sparked the Lopes to get back on track in the fourth set, with sophomores Trevor Weary and Petchul starting the set. Petchul changed the pace and set the middles more in the fourth, a strategy that paid off as Blazer and Shmelev teamed up for four kills. Janke was in on the action, using a kill to force Benedictine to use its first time when it trailed 10-6. From there, the Redhawks came within four points at 23-19 but Schwob landed a kill and Shmelev joined Weary on a block to end the set and tie the match.

The fans were on their feet for the entire final set and for good reason. As they had all night, both teams fought to knot the score at 10-10. Two Redhawk blocks gave them a lead as they looked to pull off the upset. They held the edge until Weary stepped up for a kill and a block assist with Shmelev tying the match at 14. Benedictine was the first to 15 after a Devin Hill kill but Schwob tied it and two Shmelev kills ended the match and avoided an upset.

GCU is back in action Saturday, hosting another in-state foe when Ottawa comes to Antelope Gym. The Spirit will open their season at GCU as the Lopes look to extend their winning streak to three. First serve comes at 4 p.m. (Phoenix time).