Lopes drop MPSF opener

Friday, February 18

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

6-6,0-1MPSF

Pepperdine

6-3,1-0MPSF

Pepperdine

Grand Canyon

2/18/2022 10:02:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

Janke, Slight set career highs in loss

By: Jerob Moon

The No. 10 Grand Canyon men's volleyball team lost 3-1 to No. 8 Pepperdine in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation opener on Friday night at GCU Arena.

The Lopes (6-6, 0-1 MPSF) won a dramatic first set, but Pepperdine (6-3, 1-0 MPSF) took control in the final three sets to close out the win.

The first set was an intense back-and-forth battle, which GCU won 42-40. The set drew flashbacks to GCU and BYU playing to a 45-43 set, the longest in NCAA history, in the Lopes' eventual win over the top-ranked Cougars.

On Friday night, the Lopes had to withstand seven match points from the Wavess in a set that featured 32 ties and 10 lead changes. A Camden Gianni service ace gave the Lopes set point at 24-23, but Pepperdine forced extra points. The Lopes had seven total match points and were able to close out the set on a kill by opposite Hugo Fisher and a setting error by the Waves.

GCU outside hitter Christian Janke had nine kills of his career-high 23 kills in the opening set, while Lopes setter Nicholas Slight tallied 29 of his 58 assists.

Pepperdine rebounded in the following set with a 25-19 win. The Waves limited GCU to just .179 hitting, which was helped by three blocks from middle blockers Andersen Fuller and Austin Wilmot. The Lopes led 6-5, but the Waves went on a 9-3 run to regain the lead at 14-9. GCU pulled within three, but Pepperdine closed out the set with kills from Jaylen Jasper and Akin Akinwumi.

GCU was able to improve offensively in the third set, hitting .455 but were unable to stop Pepperdine, which hit .591 with only two attacking errors in a 25-19 loss. It was close most of the set with the Lopes trailing 18-17 before the Waves took four of the next five points. Pepperdine finished the set with a pair of aces by Bryce Dvorak.

Gianni led the Lopes with five kills on eight attempts in the frame.

Pepperdine closed out the match in the fourth, winning 25-20 while hitting .357. Janke led all players with six kills in the set.

The Lopes will be back in action against Pepperdine on Sunday at 2 p.m.