Same plot, new result

Saturday, January 19

Lebanon, Tenn.

7 P.M.

Grand Canyon

4-3

Lindenwood

1-3

Grand Canyon

Lindenwood Univ.

1/19/2019 10:28:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

Lopes go 5 sets for 2nd straight night, come out victorious

By: Alex Nash

LEBANON, Tenn. -- No. 15 Grand Canyon men's volleyball was determined not to let recent history repeat itself as the Lopes went to five sets for the second consecutive night, this time prevailing over Lindenwood.

GCU (4-3) had a flair for the dramatic in the win, trailing 10-5 in the decisive fifth set before going on a 7-1 run that swung the momentum in the Lopes' favor.

Like the night before, the Lopes took the first two sets -- this time in more commanding fashion -- before the Lions neared a reverse sweep. Set scores were 25-16, 25-17, 23-25, 20-25 and 15-13.

GCU asserted itself early by taking the first sets by a combined margin of 17 points. The Lopes hit .429 in the first and a season-best .611 in the second while holding Lindenwood (1-3) under .100. The match made a complete pivot when the Lions took sets three and four, holding GCU to low-hitting marks. Set five saw multiple lead changes, but in the end, it was the GCU players celebrating.

Freshman outside Christian Janke had his second 20-kill performance of the season, leading all players with 20 kills and adding eight digs while hitting an efficient .433. Sophomore setter Onur Cukur tied his career best in assists with 41 and tied Janke's dig total. Senior opposite Will Schwob was the final Lope with double-digit kills, recording 11. Senior middle blocker Alex Shmelev was the ace and block leader on the night, recording three and six, respectively.

GCU was determined to set the tone early coming off of last night's loss and the Lopes did just that. Seven of the first 10 points went GCU's way and not much would change from that point on. The Lions came within three when the score read 8-5, but the Lopes quickly shut the door. Cukur landed an ace to give GCU a seven-point lead, and a Janke kill ended the set, 25-16.

After hitting an impressive .429 with only four errors in the first set, GCU followed it up by only committing one error on a .611 hitting mark in the second. Once again, the Lopes secured seven of the first 10 points and continued the scoring surge. This time when Lindenwood came within three the score was 12-9, and Janke responded with a kill that sent the Lopes on a big run. Schwob and Jack Burton teamed up to give GCU its largest lead of the set, up 19-12. Caleb Blazer landed the set-deciding kill to give GCU the eight-point set win.

Lindenwood refused the sweep, using its most efficient set of the night to stay alive. The Lions hit .308 and held the Lopes to .192. There was a total of 10 ties during the set, leading up to a 20-20 deadlock. A few points later, GCU was within striking distance at 24-23, but the Lions closed it out and forced a fourth.

The Lions kept it rolling in the fourth, using a 5-0 run to take a 10-7 lead that GCU could not catch. Shmelev served up a late ace forcing Lindenwood to call a timeout, leading 24-20. The strategy session worked as Lindenwood secured the final point and forced a fifth set.

For the second time in as many nights, GCU found itself trailing in a fifth set. It wasn't until the Lopes were down 10-5 that they regained momentum. Seven of the next eight points went GCU's way forcing Lindenwood to use both their timeouts. The run was capped off with a Trevor Weary ace that followed back-to-back Janke kills. Shemelv stepped up to the service line with the set tied at 13. A strong ace and a Lion error would be all the Lopes needed to earn the set and match win.

The Grow the Game Challenge comes to a close tomorrow and features a new challenge for GCU. The Lopes will match up against Lincoln Memorial for the first time with first serve set for 11:30 a.m. (Phoenix time).