New night, same 5-set win vs. No. 9

Saturday, March 9

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 P.M.

Grand Canyon

9-11, 0-6

Loyola Chicago

13-6, 6-1

Loyola Chicago

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Katie Severns

3/9/2019 9:43:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

Lopes use strong defense, another breakout star to defeat Loyola Chicago

By: Alex Nash

For the second time in as many nights, the Grand Canyon men's volleyball team battled No. 9 Loyola Chicago to five sets and came out victorious.

Instead of mounting a comeback, the Lopes needed to hold off one Saturday night and succeeded by scores of 11-25, 25-17, 25-17, 19-25 and 15-12 at Antelope Gym.

Not only did GCU (9-11) contain one of the nation's top offenses, it also led in almost all categories. The Lopes tallied 53 kills, 12 blocks, 47 assists and 45 digs. Loyola Chicago (13-6) was held to a .211 hitting percentage, their second-lowest of the season only behind Friday's loss at GCU.

GCU was paced by a breakout performance again. This time, it came from redshirt freshman setter Tanner Petchul. The Orange, Calif., native posted career highs in assists (33) and digs (seven) in addition to landing the match-deciding kill, sending the gym crowd into a frenzy.

"Our fans are amazing," Petchul said. "This is probably the loudest game we've had all year. It really brings the energy up for the team. It's great all around."

Sophomore opposite David Kisiel returned to the Lopes' rotation after missing Friday's match with an illness and did not disappoint, recording a match-best 17 kills on a .438 hitting percentage. Senior outside hitter Will Schwob was the other Lope with double-digit kills, posting 10 to go along with five digs and four blocks.

Senior middle blocker Alex Shmelev also had an impressive night, tying his career high in blocks with eight, one of which came solo. Freshman outside hitter Christian Janke fell just short of his third double-double with nine kills and a match-best 12 digs while freshman libero Cole Udall was right behind him with 10.

The Lopes previously were 0-9 this season when losing the first set. After a 25-11 defeat to start the match, that GCU trend seemed like it would continue. Despite hitting at a negative mark and the Ramblers hitting at a .391 clip, the Lopes kept their heads up and went into the second set with some swagger.

Petchul and Kisiel got the call to start the second set and their impact was felt immediately. The Lopes jumped out to a 6-1 lead, thanks to a Janke ace and kills from Kisiel, Schwob and sophomore middle blocker Ian McLain. GCU kept momentum going and even increased its lead to seven after Janke and Shmelev teamed for a block at 11-4.

The offense kept rolling and Schwob led the way using two kills, sandwiched between a block with Shmelev to put the home side ahead 23-13. The Ramblers made a run at the end, scoring four of five to force GCU into a timeout but Kisiel ended the set with a big swing to tie the match at one set apiece.

Set No. 3 started much like its predecessor, as the Lopes found themselves with a 6-2 lead after a Kisiel kill. GCU kept Loyola Chicago at arm's length, using two Shmelev blocks to take a 15-7 advantage. The senior middle blocker kept things going, inserting himself in three blocks in the span of four points to keep the Lopes ahead 21-14 after the Ramblers scored six of seven points. McLain finished the set with a kill, putting the Lopes' hitting at .474 in the set to take a 2-1 match lead.

The Ramblers looked like they might replicate GCU's Friday rally from a 2-1 hole. The fourth set went to its eighth tie at 13-13 before Loyola Chicago made its move. The Ramblers served back-to-back aces, giving them much-needed momentum. From there, the Lopes tried to capitalize on errors but were unsuccessful and a Rambler kill sent the match to a decisive fifth set.

Both teams traded blows and refused to give ground in the fifth set. Petchul landed a kill and Shmelev landed an ace but the Ramblers responded with plays like a free-ball kill that put the score at 9-9.

The set was tied for the ninth time at 10-10 after a Schwob free ball kill was reversed for a net violation. But, as it did Friday, GCU's blocking provided the advantage. McLain landed a kill and Shmelev, Kisiel and Schwob teamed up for a triple-block to give the Lopes a 12-10 edge that was the largest lead of the set. Loyola Chicago responded with a kill but Kisiel and Schwob answered with kills to set up match point. On the next rally, the ball went behind Petchul but the setter stayed composed and used a dump to take the final point and match for GCU.

"It's extremely important," Petchul said of keeping momentum heading into three matches next week. "I think the momentum we gathered on Friday to win on Saturday was super important and we just have to keep it up for these next two weeks."

GCU will continue its homestand with a string of ranked opponents next week, when MPSF foe No. 11 USC comes to Phoenix on Thursday before a two-match visit from nonconference opponent No. 14 George Mason on Friday and Saturday.