Werle earns 100th career win in sweep

Saturday, March 12

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

10-8,3-3MPSF

Harvard

6-7,4-2EIVA

Harvard

Grand Canyon

3/12/2022 9:34:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

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GCU gets back in the win column with 3-0 sweep

By: Jerob Moon

The Grand Canyon men's volleyball team kicked off a four-match nonconference homestand with a 3-0 sweep over Harvard on Friday night at GCU Arena.

It was a special win for head coach Matt Werle as he reached 100 career wins becoming the first GCU coach to reach the mark. Werle is already the winningest coach in GCU men's volleyball history.

"I'm just happy we got the win, it's not about the 100 to me, it's about our guys progressing and thinking big picture and about setting up for success," head coach Werle said. "Obviously taking care of that team with a different lineup that we've run out there and doing it in three, I'm proud of what they did."

In the fourth sweep of the season the Lopes (10-8) made a trio of lineup changes with setter Heath Hughes, outside hitter Jackson Hickman and opposite Carson Brandt all making the starting lineup. All three were productive for the Lopes as Hickman and Brandt each tallied double-digit kills and Hughes finished with a match-high 30 assists.

"Heath has been playing really well so he earned the opportunity," Werle said. "We want to make sure he's getting reps and continuing to improve while also trying to push (Nicholas) Slight. Heath has done a really good job and he's responded to being the backup really well. This was not a pity start for Heath, he's earned it and I thought he did a good job tonight.

"Carson has such a good arm and he's very vertical. The side of his game we need to improve on is his defense and the blocking portion of it. But I thought he did a nice job today and offensively we're never been concerned about what he can do in terms of scoring."

In the first set the Lopes only committed only two attacking errors in a 25-20 win. Hickman was nearly perfect converting five kills on six attempts for a .833 hitting mark. Down 11-9 the Lopes went on a 4-0 run to regain the lead 13-11 and never gave it up.

GCU pressed it's advantage even farther in the second set dominating Harvard (6-7) with a 25-14 win. Outside hitter Christian Janke and Brandt combined for 11 GCU kills on an impressive .611 hitting mark as the Lopes never trailed in the set. Up 12-10 the Lopes went on an extended 8-2 run to jump ahead by eight while Janke collected three kills.

The third set was much closer featuring 16 ties and seven lead changes in an eventual 25-22 GCU win. Janke finished his 15-kill performance with seven in the set while adding a service ace. Down 20-19 late in the set, the Lopes went on a key 3-0 run that was spurred on by a kill from Brant and two straight Harvard attacking errors. Brandt and Janke would close out the match with kills in two of the final four points.

The Lopes and Crimson will meet again tomorrow at GCU Arena at 4 p.m.