No. 9 GCU falls to No. 6 UCLA in four sets

Saturday, April 3

Phoenix, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

UCLA

Photo by: Mathew McGraw

4/3/2021 4:47:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

Lopes finish home weekend series at 0-2 vs. UCLA

By: Cassidy Mace

The No. 9 Grand Canyon men's volleyball team went to four sets with No. 6 UCLA on Saturday at GCU Arena. The Lopes (4-10, 4-10 MPSF) took the third set of the match but fell to the Bruins (13-4, 13-4 MPSF), who won 25-16, 27-25, 19-25, 25-15.

Sophomore opposite Hugo Fischer led GCU with 16 kills and also recorded three digs and three blocks. Sophomore middle Kyle Thompson added seven kills on .545 hitting, three digs and three blocks.

The Bruins started the match with an 8-2 lead and still led 12-6 even as a kill from freshman outside Camden Gianni kept the Lopes close. Trailing 14-6, GCU used its second time out and answered later with a 3-0 run with a kill from Gianni and block from sophomore setter Heath Hughes to put the Bruins lead at 17-12. UCLA extended that lead to 22-13 before the Lopes strung together three points with two kills from McLain, but they were unable to stop the Bruins from winning 25-16.

GCU took a 5-1 lead in the second set, thanks to two kills and a solo block from Fischer. The Bruins rallied after a time out, but the Lopes maintained an 11-7 lead with kills from Thompson, Gianni and Fischer. A three-point run with a kill from Thompson and ace from senior outside hitter Trevor Weary took the lead to 19-12. UCLA got back in the match with a four-point run and reduced GCU's lead to 22-21. Another three-point run put UCLA ahead 25-24, setting up extra points and the 29-27 Bruins win for a 2-0 match lead.

A five-point run gave GCU a 12-6 lead in the third set, when back-to-back blocks came on a solo from Thompson and a double block from Thompson and Hughes. Another string of points with kills from senior outside David Kisiel and Weary gave the Lopes a 15-9 lead. GCU kept the lead at 21-14 after an ace from senior middle McLain. Despite a UCLA run, the Lopes finished the set with three straight kills, one from Hughes and two from Thompson, to win 25-19 and extend the match.

UCLA rebounded for a 12-4 lead to start the fourth set. Fischer picked up two kills and Weary had one to trail 14-7. GCU had a three-point run with kills from Weary and Fischer and a triple block from Weary, Fischer and McLain, but the Lopes still trailed 19-12. UCLA scored three consecutive points and pushed through to take the set 25-15 and win the match.

The Lopes travel to USC on April 9-10 for their final road matches of the season.