Grand Canyon University Athletics
Thursday, January 27
Phoenix, Ariz.
6 p.m.
Grand Canyon
4-2,0-0MPSF
3
vs
0
Benedictine
0-1
1
2
3
F
Benedictine Mesa
16
10
21
0
Grand Canyon
25
25
25
3
Season-best offense keys 3-0 home win
1/27/2022 8:14:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
Lopes' balanced attack overpowers Benedictine at GCU Arena
The Grand Canyon men's volleyball team was happy to be back in front of the home fans at GCU Arena on Thursday night, when they served up a treat with a 3-0 sweep over Benedictine.
The sixth-ranked Lopes had their best offensive showcase of the season, hitting .435 as a team with five players hitting .500 individually against the crosstown visitors. GCU (4-2) was also stout in the middle, recording nine blocks in limiting Benedictine (1-4) to just .012 hitting.
The Lopes only committed six errors on their 62 attacking chances to move to 3-0 at home.
GCU dominated the first set, 25-16. The Redhawks scored the first point but, from then on, it was all GCU. The Lopes scored nine of the next 10 points to lead 10-2. GCU outside hitter Camden Gianni and middle blocker Jacob Guerber combined for three service aces during the run.
Lopes sophomore outside hitter Jackson Hickman recorded 10 kills in the 3-1 win over then-No. 8 UC San Diego last week, and carried over his strong performance to Thursday with five first-set kills on .571 hitting.
It was more of the same dominance in the second set, as the Lopes won by a larger margin, 25-10, to go up two sets to none. Eight Lopes recorded a kill in the set as GCU hit .458 with only two errors while keeping the Redhawks in the negatives for hitting at -.154.
In the third and final set, Lopes head coach Matt Werle gave bench players some experience with middle blocker Chibuike Obi, opposite Carson Brandt and outside hitter Karter Rogers all seeing extended playing time in a 25-21 GCU set win.
Gianni finished strong with his best set performance, converting eight attacking chances into six kills while adding two blocks and a service ace. The Carlsbad, California, native's 11 kills led the Lopes for the fifth straight match.
Redshirt junior Heath Hughes came off the GCU bench and tallied eight assists in the frame and set up Obi for the final kill from the middle.
The Lopes will have a quick turnaround as they face Master's for a Friday matinee at GCU Arena with the match starting at 2 p.m.
The sixth-ranked Lopes had their best offensive showcase of the season, hitting .435 as a team with five players hitting .500 individually against the crosstown visitors. GCU (4-2) was also stout in the middle, recording nine blocks in limiting Benedictine (1-4) to just .012 hitting.
The Lopes only committed six errors on their 62 attacking chances to move to 3-0 at home.
GCU dominated the first set, 25-16. The Redhawks scored the first point but, from then on, it was all GCU. The Lopes scored nine of the next 10 points to lead 10-2. GCU outside hitter Camden Gianni and middle blocker Jacob Guerber combined for three service aces during the run.
Lopes sophomore outside hitter Jackson Hickman recorded 10 kills in the 3-1 win over then-No. 8 UC San Diego last week, and carried over his strong performance to Thursday with five first-set kills on .571 hitting.
It was more of the same dominance in the second set, as the Lopes won by a larger margin, 25-10, to go up two sets to none. Eight Lopes recorded a kill in the set as GCU hit .458 with only two errors while keeping the Redhawks in the negatives for hitting at -.154.
In the third and final set, Lopes head coach Matt Werle gave bench players some experience with middle blocker Chibuike Obi, opposite Carson Brandt and outside hitter Karter Rogers all seeing extended playing time in a 25-21 GCU set win.
Gianni finished strong with his best set performance, converting eight attacking chances into six kills while adding two blocks and a service ace. The Carlsbad, California, native's 11 kills led the Lopes for the fifth straight match.
Redshirt junior Heath Hughes came off the GCU bench and tallied eight assists in the frame and set up Obi for the final kill from the middle.
The Lopes will have a quick turnaround as they face Master's for a Friday matinee at GCU Arena with the match starting at 2 p.m.
Team Stats
Ben
GCU
Kills
25
33
Errors
24
6
Attempts
82
62
Hitting %
.012
.435
Points
31
47
Assists
23
27
Aces
5
5
Blocks
1
9
Game Leaders
Kills
11
Aces
4
Blocks
3
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
3
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
OPP
/ Men's Volleyball
OH
/ Men's Volleyball
MB
/ Men's VolleyballOH
/ Men's Volleyball
S
/ Men's VolleyballMB
/ Men's Volleyball
OH
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