GCU tops 4th straight ranked team

Friday, March 15

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 P.M.

Grand Canyon

11-11, 1-6

George Mason

12-6, 6-2

George Mason

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Gillian Rea

3/15/2019 9:46:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

Lopes defeat George Mason in 5 sets to keep win streak alive

By: Alex Nash

Ninth ranked Loyola Chicago (twice), 10th ranked USC and 14th ranked George Mason have all fallen to the Grand Canyon men's volleyball team in the last week. GCU did what it does best, by going the distance to defeat the Patriots by scores of 20-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-18 and 15-9.

The Lopes (11-11) have now played the most sets in the nation totaling 89 in 22 matches. GCU does not seem to be phased by the increased work load as they now carry a 7-2 record when going five sets.

Friday night's win came by way of a comeback after the Lopes trailed 2-1. It's not a surprise that defense was on display again for GCU, but the story of the night came on offense. Four Lopes recorded double-digit kills for the first time this season thanks to sophomore setter Tanner Petchul and his career-high 47 assists.

When asked about the offense, senior middle blocker Alex Shmelev said, "I think it comes down to how many sets we've played throughout the season already. We've been getting a lot of reps with Tanner (Petchul), getting a lot of good connection and I think right now we're peaking. Props to Tanner."

The middles set the tone for GCU on both sides of the net. Sophomore middle blocker Ian McLain set a new career-high and led the Lopes in kills with 13, while Shmelev added 10. The two could not miss on the night, with Shmelev hitting at a .571 clip and McLain at a .455. The duo also led on defense, combining for 11 blocks.

Freshman outside hitter Christian Janke finished the night second on the team in kills with 12 and added two aces, while sophomore opposite David Kisiel was not far behind, adding 11 kills and an ace of his own.

Much like the offense, defense was a team effort and contributions came from players like senior outside hitter Will Schwob and his nine kills, six blocks and six digs. Freshman libero Cole Udall added eight digs, but it was Petchul who led the team in that category with a career-high 11 on his way to a double-double.

As a whole, the match was evenly split. The Lopes led in kills and digs while the Patriots (12-6) led in aces, blocks and assists. Both teams hit .254 for the night.

Much like the night before, the Lopes found themselves in an early hole after set number one. The Patriots came out hot and jumped to a 12-5 lead thanks to four straight points. The Lopes fought back and used a Kisiel ace to tighten things up at 17-16, Mason. However, the visitors forced GCU to a .067 hitting percentage and it would be enough to take a 1-0 match lead.

The second set started like the first, with GCU in a hole and the winning streak in jeopardy. Kisiel, Shmelev and Schwob all recorded kills to foreshadow the balanced offense and tied things up at 7-7. The Lopes earned their first lead at 11-10 after another Schwob kill and rode that momentum for as long as they could. The Patriots were determined to prove why they are nationally ranked and battled to take a late 21-20 lead, forcing GCU into a timeout. Janke took matters into his own hands and landed a kill followed by an ace to force set point. The Patriots scored one but Kisiel but an end to things with a kill, tying the match.

Back-and-forth play ensued in the third set as the match was tied at every point, leading up to a 9-9 deadlock. It was Schwob who broke things up, capitalizing on a servicer error by sending a free ball back down to give the set its first two-point lead. The Patriots responded and brought the match back within a point but Petchul used his second swing of the match to get his second kill and give GCU a 17-15 lead. Four points later, George Mason was in the driver's seat with a two point lead and the swing in momentum was all they needed to take the set not long after.

A fire was sparked in the Lopes as they saw their streak coming to an end. Janke stayed strong at the net for a solo block and Shmelev followed with two kills and an ace to give GCU a 12-6 lead. The senior kept things going when he teamed up with Schwob for a block to have the score read 18-12, all but guaranteeing a fifth-set. Mason tried to stop the inevitable and held off match-point as long as they could, but with a 24-18 lead, McLain earned his 10^th kill of the match to force the decisive game.

The defense stayed strong thanks to a triple-block from Schwob, Kisiel and McLain as the Lopes jumped out to a 4-1 lead. Mason, as they had all night, responded with back-to-back kills bringing the match within a point. Whether it was the rowdy Antelope Gym crowd or simply nerves, the Patriots followed with three errors and the Lopes capitalized, taking an 8-4 lead to the switch. Shmelev kept the four-point margin alive with a kill but a Lopes service error and a Patriot block had things close again with the score reading 11-9. GCU went with its hot hand in McLain and he responded with a kill. Two Patriot errors followed and in a suiting finish, McLain recorded his career-best 14th kill to give the Lopes the win and keep the streak of beating ranked teams alive.

Things do not get easier for the Lopes as they will take on the same George Mason Patriots Saturday night with first serve set for 6 p.m..