GCU falls, splits road trip

Saturday, January 26

La Jolla, Calif.

6 P.M.

Grand Canyon

6-4

UC San Diego

3-5

Grand Canyon

UC San Diego

1/26/2019 8:00:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Alex Nash

LA JOLLA, Calif. – The Grand Canyon men's volleyball team saw their win streak come to an end on Saturday night, falling in straight sets to UC San Diego. Set scores were 25-20, 27-25 and 25-19.

For the second time this season, GCU (6-4) built a three-match win streak but had it snapped on the road. The Lopes were able to keep it close and fought hard, but UCSD (3-5) ultimately used an efficient attack and capitalized on mistakes to earn the sweep.

The Tritons edged the Lopes in most statistical categories. GCU had 36 kills, two aces and tied in digs with 24. The Lopes were out-blocked for the first time this season, recording 6.5 to UCSD's eight.

Though the blocking streak came to an end, freshman outside hitter Christian Janke kept his season-long streak of double-digit kills alive, recording 15 on a .423 hitting percentage. Senior middle blocker Alex Shmelev led the Lopes on defense with four blocks while freshman libero Cole Udall contributed eight digs. Sophomore setter Onur Cukur had an all-around night, recording 28 assists, four digs and two blocks.

The two sides were relatively even to start the match, both exchanging leads until the score read 16-16 after a kill from junior outside hitter Jack Burton. However, six of the next seven points went the Tritons' way and they carried that momentum to a 25-20 finish.

Set two was the closest of the night, but it did not look that way to start. UCSD jumped out to a 14-8 start and forced GCU to use its first timeout. The Lopes fought back, but UCSD was able to stop scoring runs and still hold a 19-15 lead late. Freshman setter Heath Hughes entered to serve, and GCU earned the next three points to tie the match and gain momentum. From there, the battle continued. Janke landed a kill and UCSD committed an error giving GCU the chance at set point, leading 25-24. It was two Triton kills and a block that would do in the Lopes and give the home team a 2-0 match lead.

GCU tried to do what its opposition had done the last four matches after trailing 2-0: win the third set. A 15-15 score after a Janke kill looked promising, but UCSD used another scoring run to halt GCU's attack. Five straight points went to the Tritons and it would be all the momentum they needed to close things out. Sophomore middle blocker Ian McLain tried to spark the Lopes late with a kill bringing it to 24-19, but UCSD earned the last kill and the match win.

Following five straight road matches, GCU returns to Antelope Gym next week to take on No. 3 UC Irvine and Charleston. The Lopes will continue the trend of back-to-back matches, playing on Friday and Saturday with first serve set for 6 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.