Janke leads in loss at No. 1 Hawaii

Saturday, January 11

Honolulu, Hawaii

10 p.m.

Grand Canyon

1-2,0-0MPSF

Hawaii

5-0,0-0Big West

Grand Canyon

Hawaii

Photo by: Courtney Metzger/Hawaii Media Source

1/12/2020 12:27:00 AM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Sophomore collects 9 kills vs. top-ranked host

By: Cassidy Mace

HONOLULU — Sophomore outside hitter Christian Janke led Grand Canyon men's volleyball with nine kills, four service aces and two digs in a three-set loss to No. 1 Hawaii on Saturday night.

The Lopes (1-2) showed their strength in a tough second set, becoming the first team to score 20 points against the Rainbow Warriors this season. GCU's 25-15, 25-20, 25-13 loss marked the finale of the Raising Cane's Rainbow Warrior Classic at Hawaii's Stan Sheriff Center.

Freshman outside hitter Camden Gianni continued to make an impact in the GCU starting lineup, collecting seven kills, four digs and one assist. Junior middle blocker Ian McClain hit the Lopes' highest percentage in the match at .500, picking up three kills and two blocks.

Sophomore setter Heath Hughes made the first kill to put GCU up 1-0 in the first set. Hawaii (5-0) responded with two kills during a 4-0 run that was broken up by a kill from Janke. A 5-1 run for the Rainbow Warriors put the Lopes behind 9-3 before GCU collected back-to-back points on a kill from sophomore middle blocker Kyle Thompson and an ace from junior outside hitter David Kisiel. The Lopes closed the gap with a kill and an ace from Janke, combined with a Hawaii service error that cut GCU's deficit to 11-8.

A four-point run by the Rainbow Warriors was broken up by McClain with a kill. Kisiel and Janke teamed up for two more kills to keep the Lopes in the match at 17-11. After a kill from Hawaii, the Lopes responded with a 3-0 run to get within four at 18-14 but Hawaii managed a 7-1 run to end the 25-15 first set.

McClain stepped up for the first GCU kill of the second set, tying the match at 1-1. A pair of errors from both teams led to a 4-0 run by the Rainbow Warriors, giving Hawaii a 6-2 lead. The Lopes battled back, using a service error from Hawaii to start a quick 3-0 run that featured a Janke kill and a Thompson solo block. Thompson added a kill to cut the Rainbow Warriors' lead to 7-6. After a service error on the Lopes, Kisiel kept GCU in the match with a kill and Gianni tied it at 8-8 with another kill.

Hawaii answered with a 5-0 run until a Gianni kill. Kisiel added another to drop the Rainbow Warriors' lead to 13-10. Gianni recorded another kill during a Hawaii 5-1 run to lead 18-11. Back-to-back errors from Hawaii kept the Lopes in the match, as a Janke kill put the Lopes within six at 20-14. Gianni and Janke paired up for another set of GCU kills to bring the Lopes within five at 21-16. After a service error and timeout, GCU used a Hawaii ball-handling error and a block from McClain and Hughes to trail 22-18. The Lopes traded kills with Gianni putting up two but GCU fell 25-20.

Janke made the first big GCU plays of the third set to tie it at 2-2 and 3-3. A Hawaii 11-3 run was broken up by Hugo Fischer's first kill of the night. He added another moments later to keep Hawaii's lead at 15-8. After a 4-0 run and a service error that gave the Rainbow Warriors a 19-9 lead, Janke strung together three straight aces that were followed by a Gianni kill. Hawaii closed its 25-13 set win with a 6-0 run.

The Lopes return to Phoenix for their home opener on Friday. GCU takes on Park in Antelope Gymnasium at 6 p.m.