Another clutch 5th set claims win

Sunday, January 20

Lebanon, Tenn.

11:30 A.M.

Grand Canyon

5-3

Lincoln Memorial

4-2

Lincoln Memorial

Grand Canyon

1/20/2019 2:01:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

Lopes go the distance for the 3rd time in 3 nights

By: Alex Nash

LEBANON, Tenn. – No. 15 Grand Canyon men's volleyball took it to the wire for the third straight night, coming out victorious against Lincoln Memorial on Sunday.

This was the fifth time in its first eight matches that GCU has seen a fifth set, going 4-1 in such affairs. Sunday's scores were 25-18, 25-18, 24-26, 18-25 and 15-10.

There have been three five-set matches in Grow the Game Challenge's history with all coming this year and all featuring GCU. In each, the Lopes (5-3) held a two-set lead and fought uphill for the rest of the match. This was GCU's most efficient match of the tournament, hitting .312.

A different Lope led the offense in GCU's tournament finale with sophomore opposite David Kisiel making the most of his opportunity. Kisiel recorded a match-high 17 kills to go along with two aces, five digs and five blocks. Freshman outside hitter Christian Janke has yet to have a match without double-digit kills and Sunday was no different. The Carlsbad, Calif., native had 15 kills and eight digs with a .250 hitting mark. Freshman setter Heath Hughes earned the start in the third set and saw time the rest of the match for a team-high 22 assists.

GCU used another efficient first set to set an early tone. The Lopes hit .400 while keeping Lincoln Memorial in the negative. Sophomore setter Onur Cukur was at the service line for a 7-0 run that was punctuated with two Kisiel/Blazer blocks to give GCU a 10-2 lead. Lincoln Memorial was strong from the service line as well, securing six of the next seven points with two coming on aces. The three-point margin at 20-17 would be as close as it came. Janke landed a kill and GCU took five of the last six points with Kisiel earning his seventh kill to end it.

The Lopes made a habit of strong starts this weekend, following up their first set with a .545 hitting percentage in the second set. GCU used four- and three-point runs to take a 10-4 lead, which was on par for the set. An ace brought the Railsplitters close but back-to-back Janke kills gave GCU breathing room at 19-13. Lincoln Memorial used another ace late to try and spark a comeback but Shmelev put an end to it, landing the final kill to give GCU a 2-0 match lead.

Freshmen Kyle Thompson, Parker Broadway and Hughes started the third set. The Lopes hit .323 but a .452 Railsplitters hitting mark would take the sweep hopes away. GCU led 17-11 but four scoring runs powered the Lincoln Memorial comeback. Broadway tied it at 24 before the final two points forced a fourth set.

The fourth set was more of the same for GCU, getting outhit despite going back to the original lineup. Lincoln Memorial jumped out to a 7-4 lead and did not look back. GCU showed some life late, making it 24-18, but the Railsplitters closed it out to send the match to the fifth set.

GCU was determined to get momentum back. Neither side would budge, however, as there were six ties by the time the score was 7-7. Tanner Petchul's serving gave GCU the spark it needed. Eight of the next 10 points went the Lopes' way with four of coming from Janke, to leave Tennessee on a high note.

GCU continues the road swing in the San Diego area next weekend with two more matches before returning home. The Lopes will take on St. Katherine and UC San Diego on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Both matches are set for 7 p.m. (Phoenix time).