No. 9 Lopes sweep Eagles at home

Friday, April 16

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

7-10,7-10MPSF

Concordia

3-12,3-12MPSF

Concordia (CA)

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Mathew McGraw

4/16/2021 8:11:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Freshman Chibuike Obi records 7 blocks in second start

By: Cassidy Mace

Grand Canyon men's volleyball picked up a straight-set win over Concordia in the second-to-last match of the regular season Friday night. The No. 9 Lopes (7-10, 7-10 MPSF) took down the Eagles (3-12, 3-12 MPSF) with an adjusted lineup that allowed GCU to show its depth heading into the MPSF Tournament next week.

In just his second career appearance, freshman middle blocker Chibuike Obi led GCU with a career-high seven blocks, the most by an individual Lope this season. Obi also recorded four kills on six attempts for a .500 hitting percentage in the match at Antelope Gymnasium.

Sophomore opposite Hugo Fischer led GCU with 10 kills, also putting up two blocks and two digs.

The Lopes started the match with a 4-2 lead, thanks to a double block from Obi and Fischer and a kill from Obi. The Lopes held the lead with two more kills from Obi and one from senior outside hitter Trevor Weary to lead 11-10. The Eagles tied it at 15-15 before going on a three-point run to lead 18-15. Weary broke the run with a kill to put GCU back within two. A kill from sophomore outside Christian Janke and a block from Janke and Obi brought the Concordia lead to 20-19. The Eagles put one more point on the board before the Lopes went on a six-point run to win the set 25-21. The run included back-to-back blocks first from Obi and Fischer followed by a solo block from Weary. Janke served an ace to give the Lopes a 23-21 lead. Another block from Weary and Obi made it set point and a Concordia error gave GCU the win.

GCU carried the momentum into the second set, going up 6-3 with three kills from Fischer and one from Obi. Janke and Fischer both picked up one more kill to put the Lopes up 19-13. The teams went point for point for GCU to lead 19-16 before going on a three-point run with two errors from the Eagles and a double block from sophomore setter Heath Hughes and senior middle blocker Ian McLain. Concordia had a three-point run to trail 23-21 before a solo block from Obi. The Eagles got one more point before a service error gave GCU another 25-21 set win.

The Lopes were on fire to start the third set, going on an 8-1 run to lead 9-3. McLain recorded two kills and two blocks alongside Janke to help GCU on the run. Concordia put three more points on the board to close the gap to 9-6, but four straight points from the Lopes gave GCU a 14-7 lead. Fueled by errors from the Eagles, the Lopes' lead extended to 17-8. Concordia attempted to get back in the set with a three-point run to trail 21-15, but Janke broke it with a kill to keep a seven-point lead. A triple block from Obi, outsides Jackson Hickman and Grayson Browning set up match point at 24-16. The Eagles got a block to make it 24-17 before Hickman closed the match with a kill.

GCU returns to Antelope Gymnasiums on Saturday for the final match of the regular season. The Lopes take on Concordia again at 4 p.m. for GCU's Senior Day.