Defense proves stout in 4-set win

Saturday, January 8

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

2-0,0-0MPSF

McKendree

0-2,0-0MIVA

McKendree

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Skyler Coblentz

1/8/2022 10:26:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Lopes accumulate 13 blocks as Gianni provides offense

By: Jerob Moon

The No. 9 Grand Canyon men's volleyball team completed a sweep of No. 14 McKendree on Saturday night with a 3-1 home win.

The Lopes (2-0) limited the Bearcats (0-2) to .102 hitting by recording 13 blocks while GCU outside hitter Camden Gianni led the way offensively with 14 kills in front of 912 fans at GCU Arena.

"As a team, we recently met with our sports psychologist and talked about worrying about what's in front of us, knowing exactly where your feet are and being in the present," Lopes head coach Matt Werle said of GCU Director of Mental Performance Dr. Dan Gerdes. "So, last night we totally moved on from the win. We were 0-0 and wanted to get to 1-0. I think it was apparent that the nerves were gone, and the guys showed it."

Lopes redshirt junior opposite Hugo Fischer added 12 digs while junior middle blocker Troy Culp controlled the net with nine kills and five blocks.

In the first set, the Lopes took advantage of the Bearcats' mistakes, earning four of their first six points from McKendree service errors. Later in the set, the Lopes found their offensive rhythm, taking six of eight points as Culp, Gianni and Fischer each earned kills to push the lead to 14-10.

The Lopes went on a 6-3 run to close out the set with outside hitter Karter Rogers and sophomore middle blocker Colin Lovejoy picking up two blocks each for a 25-19 scoreline.

Rogers, a redshirt freshman, was a serve sub in the first match but performed well in extended playing time on Saturday, finishing with seven kills and three blocks.

GCU limited McKendree to .088 hitting in a closer second set, with Fischer providing six kills and five digs. A Heath Hughes solo block opened the Lopes' biggest lead at 22-17, but GCU had to withstand a McKendree 4-1 run that closed the gap to 23-21. The Lopes held their ground and won the final two points on a service error and attacking error by the Bearcats to win 25-22.

Down 2-0, McKendree used the momentum from the second set to win the third set 25-22 and avoid the sweep. The Lopes led 11-8 after a Lovejoy block, but the Bearcats responded by winning eight of the next nine points to lead 16-12. GCU pushed back within three, but McKendree closed out the set as the Lopes hit only .182.

As on Friday night, the Lopes closed out the match in the fourth set, winning easily 25-14. As a team, GCU hit a match-high .522 in the fourth set, when Culp, Rogers and Gianni combined for 11 of the 14 Lope kills. Leading 7-5, GCU went on an 8-1 that was finished by back-to-back kills from Gianni and Culp, who finished with .571 hitting.

That lead ballooned to 20-9 before GCU closed out its second straight win against the top-15 visitor with a kill by Gianni.

"It's a good feeling to get those first wins," said Hughes, who delivered a match-high 39 assists. "We've put an emphasis on these games to prove we belong in the top 10, and we we're able to showcase our depth. That fourth set was a big emphasis on where we belong."

The Lopes will turn their attention to the first road trip of the season next week. GCU will head to the East Coast with a pair of matches at No. 5 Penn State on Thursday and Friday and an exhibition next Saturday at Werle's alma mater, Juniata.