GCU sets crowd record, falls to BYU

Friday, February 14

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

9-3,2-1MPSF

BYU

13-0,3-0MPSF

BYU

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Mathew McGraw

2/14/2020 8:17:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

No. 2 Cougars sweep Lopes in front of 3,879

By: Cassidy Mace

The Grand Canyon men's volleyball team drew a program record crowd of 3,879 fans Saturday night in a three-set loss to No. 2 BYU at GCU Arena.

Sophomore outside hitter Christian Janke led the Lopes (9-3, 2-1 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) with 12 kills, one assist and one dig in the 25-22, 25-18, 28-26 loss. GCU senior middle blocker Caleb Blazer recorded four blocks, two solo and two assists, and sophomore opposite Hugo Fischer added three service aces.

The Lopes kept it close in the first set, falling to the Cougars (13-0, 3-0 MPSF) by only three points. After trailing early the set, GCU went on a five-point scoring run with Fischer at the service line to take an 8-6 lead. The Lopes battled with the Cougars, extending their lead to 16-13. BYU managed to pull ahead with a five-point run to go up 22-19 before closing out the set at 25-22.

BYU took an 11-7 lead in the second set and later made a five-point run to extend the lead to 17-9. The Lopes battled, matching BYU point for point after a 21-15 deficit, but the Cougars pulled through for a 25-18 set win.

GCU rallied in the third set after trailing 9-4. The Lopes got back within one at 14-13 thanks to a kill from sophomore setter Heath Hughes. The teams went back and forth until a kill from GCU junior outside hitter David Kisiel tied the match at 17.

The Lopes fell behind until a three-point run put GCU ahead 23-23 after a kill from Janke, a block from Blazer and Kisiel and a solo block from Blazer. Janke and Kisiel recorded kills to give the Lopes a set point at 25-24. BYU strung together two points to set up match point, but Kisiel made a kill that tied the score back up at 26-26. Two more points from BYU gave the Cougars the 28-26 set win and a match sweep.

The Lopes are back in action on Saturday against Ottawa at Antelope Gymnasium with first serve at 4 p.m.