GCU downs Lindenwood in 3 sets

Saturday, January 25

St. Charles, Mo.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Lindenwood

1/25/2020 7:45:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

Lopes sweep Lions 3-0 at Lindenwood Invitational

By: Cassidy Mace

ST. CHARLES, Mo. — The Grand Canyon men's volleyball won its fourth straight match on Saturday with a sweep at Lindenwood. The Lopes (5-2) took down the Lions 25-19, 25-19, 25-21 in their second match of the Lindenwood Invitational.

Freshman outside hitter Camden Gianni led GCU with 13 kills, three digs, one block and one ace while hitting .429 against Lindenwood (3-4). Lopes sophomore middle blocker Kyle Thompson went 6 for 7 in kills for a .857 hitting percentage, also recording two blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Christian Janke contributed nine kills, seven digs and one ace to his Lopes' win.

GCU made a strong start in the first set, kicking the match off with a 3-0 run. Another 3-0 run featuring kills from Thompson and junior middle blocker Ian McLain gave the Lopes a 7-2 lead early in the first set. The Lopes held the lead throughout the set with McLain contributing four kills and a block to the 25-19 set victory.

A block by Gianni and McLain got GCU started with the first point of the second set. The Lopes continued to push on offense, quickly going up 10-6 over the Lions. The teams traded points until a Gianni kill increased GCU's lead to 15-10. A kill and a pair of blocks gave the Lions a three-point run to close the gap at 17-14, but the Lopes held on to the lead to take the second set, 25-19. Thompson and Gianni recorded five kills and one block assist in the set.

Lindenwood had its best performance in the third set, starting the set with a 3-0 lead. The Lopes bounced back to tie it at 4-4, but the Lions kept it within two for the majority of the set. GCU found its stride when a pair of kills from McLain and Gianni gave the Lopes a 20-16 lead. The Lions continued to compete, but a kill and an ace from Gianni pushed the Lopes ahead 23-18. Another kill from McClain and a service error from the Lions secured the sweep for GCU with a 25-21 set win.

The Lopes close out the Lindenwood Invitational on Sunday against Quincy, starting at noon (Phoenix time).