GCU sweeps Juniata in exhibition

Friday, January 14

Huntingdon, Pa.

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Juniata College

Photo by: Skyler Coblentz

1/14/2022 3:22:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Werle honored by alma mater prior to Lopes' 3-0 win

By: Jerob Moon

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Grand Canyon men's volleyball team took down Division III opponent Juniata 3-0 in an exhibition match on Friday.

It was a special match for GCU head coach Matt Werle, who was honored pregame by his alma mater. Werle was a four-time All-American and three-time national champion with the Eagles and will be inducted into the Juniata Athletics Hall of Fame this summer.

The Lopes fired on all cylinders from the very first set, finishing with .319 hitting and eight service aces while adding eight blocks. Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Camden Gianni led all players with 12 kills while setter Nicholas Slight recorded a game-high 21 assists and three blocks.

In the first set, GCU came out strong and hit .524 with only two attacking errors in a 25-14 win. The Lopes took the first point and never looked back, extending the lead to double digits on a Hugo Fischer kill to make it 16-6. After Juniata scored three straight points to make it 21-12, Fischer and outside hitter Karter Rogers tallied three kills to close out the set.

It was a closer second set but the Lopes prevailed 25-21. More Lopes saw the court in the set with Chibuike Obi and Grayson Browning entering the match. GCU's hitting decreased from the first set but the Lopes still hit .243 and held Juniata to -.071.

Juniata took an early 4-1 lead, but that was quickly erased as GCU regained the lead at 6-5 off a Fischer kill. Up 11-10, GCU went on a 7-2 run to push the lead to 18-13 and held that cushion until the end of the set. Middle blocker Jacob Guerber converted a kill to make it 24-21 and the Lopes won on the next point from a Juniata attacking error.

The third set started off with a solo block from redshirt sophomore Carson Brandt, as the Lopes again dipped into their deep bench. Brandt would pick up a kill later in the set to make it a 14-9 GCU lead. He finished with a pair of kills and service aces.

Down 15-9, Juniata went on a 5-0 run to make it a one-point score, but the Lopes responded by scoring five of the next six points to push the lead to 20-15 and GCU closed out the set score at 25-17.

The Lopes will wrap up their weekend in Pennsylvania with a rematch against No. 4 Penn State on Saturday at 5 p.m. (Phoenix time).