No. 10 Lopes down No. 12 Eagles on road

Saturday, January 30

Irvine, Calif.

8 p.m.

Grand Canyon

1-1,1-1MPSF

Concordia

0-3,0-3MPSF

Grand Canyon

Concordia (CA)

1/30/2021 10:33:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

Trio of GCU athletes record double-digit kills in first 2021 win

By: Cassidy Mace

IRVINE, Calif. – The Grand Canyon men's volleyball team had three individuals log double-digit kills in a sweep of No. 12 Concordia (0-3, 0-3 MPSF) on Saturday night. The No. 10 Lopes (1-1, 1-1 MPSF) battled into extra points in all three sets, 27-25, 32-30, 27-25, to pick up their first win of the season.

GCU freshman outside hitter Camden Gianni led the charge with 18 kills, missing his career high by one. Sophomore Christian Janke and junior Hugo Fischer each recorded 11 kills, three blocks and one ace to help the Lopes sweep the Eagles.

Leading GCU in digs and assists was sophomore setter Heath Hughes, who tallied 44 assists and 12 digs. Hughes finished last season ranked sixth nationally in assists per set at 10.9.

Senior middle blocker Ian McLain led the Lopes in hitting percentage, totaling six kills on nine attempts with no errors to finish at .667. McLain was also one of five GCU players to make three blocks, along with Janke, Fischer, Hughes and sophomore middle Kyle Thompson.

The Lopes won almost every statistical category, finishing with 67.5 points, 52 kills, 51 assists, nine blocks and six aces while hitting .406.

The first set of the night started even with neither team taking more than a one-point lead through the first 15 points. GCU gained momentum with a three-point run, including a Hughes ace and Gianni's third kill to put the Lopes up 17-15. The Eagles answered with a three-point run and the match continued as a point-for-point battle through a tie at 25. Back-to-back kills from Fischer pushed the Lopes ahead to take the first set 27-25, their first set win of the season.

Concordia took an early 10-7 lead in the second set, testing the Lopes to stay on pace. GCU tied the match at 14, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21, but were unable to take more than a one-point lead until Janke served a three-point run that gave the Lopes a 24-22 lead. Concordia fought back for another 25-25 tie and the battle continued to a 30-29 Lopes deficit. GCU strung together three straight points to finish the set 32-30, taking a 2-0 match lead.

An early Lopes 4-1 lead set a different tone for the final set with GCU using its momentum from the end of the second set. Concordia battled back to take a 12-10 lead. The Lopes tied it up five times before gaining a two-point lead at 22-20 with a block from Thompson and Janke and a kill by Janke. Sophomore outside hitter Jackson Hickman, who led the Lopes with 10 kills against No. 9 UCLA on Friday, subbed in to serve at 24-24, putting down an ace to set up match point. A kill from the Eagles pushed another set into extra points, but a kill from Gianni and an error by Concordia sealed the match with a 27-25 GCU set win.

The Lopes make their 2021 GCU Arena debut on Friday, Feb. 12, facing off against Concordia again. The visit features matches on Friday, Feb. 12, at noon and Saturday, Feb. 13, at 4 p.m.

Follow the Lopes on Twitter and Instagram at @GCU_MVolleyball for updates.