Grand Canyon University Athletics
Friday, March 25
Irvine, Calif.
7 p.m.
Grand Canyon
13-9,3-4MPSF
0
at
3
Concordia
10-9,3-4MPSF
1
2
3
F
Grand Canyon
21
34
23
0
CUI
25
36
25
3
Photo by: Skyler Coblentz
GCU swept by Concordia in Irvine
3/25/2022 9:32:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
Gianni tallies 17 kills in road loss with 36-34 middle set
IRVINE, Calif. – The Grand Canyon men's volleyball team dropped the first of two road matches 3-0 to Concordia on Friday night.
It was a disappointing return to Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play for the ninth-ranked Lopes (13-9, 3-4 MPSF), coming off four straight nonconference wins at home. Concordia (10-9, 3-4 MPSF) came out strong offensively and hit .383, the highest mark for the Eagles since Jan. 22.
Concordia kicked off the match with a 25-21 win in the first set. The Lopes struggled to stop the Concordia offensive attack, which hit .480 with middle blocker Owen Chun collecting seven of his season-high 24 kills. The Lopes were down 14-13, but the Eagles went on a 5-0 run to put the set out of reach at 19-13. GCU was able to get within two late, but two straight points from the Eagles closed out the set.
In the second set, the Lopes dropped a long 36-34 second set for GCU's 10th extra-points set this season. The Lopes had to come behind from an early six-point deficit to force extra points after falling behind 13-7. Down 23-20, the Lopes went on a 4-0 run to hold a match point but a Christian Janke service error tied up the match.
As the teams went back and forth, the Lopes held 10 set points but were unable to put it away. A kill by Concordia's Jonathan Carlson and a GCU attacking error ended the set.
Concordia finished the match with a 25-23, third-set win. The Lopes held a 14-9 lead thanks to outside hitters Camden Gianni and Janke combining for six kills, but the Eagles responded with a 7-2 run to regain the lead at 16-15. GCU held another late 23-21 lead but the Eagles scored four straight to complete the 3-0 win.
Gianni finished with a team-high 17 kills while Janke and opposite Hugo Fischer finished with 13 and 10 kills, respectively.
The Lopes and Eagles will meet again Saturday at 7 p.m.
It was a disappointing return to Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play for the ninth-ranked Lopes (13-9, 3-4 MPSF), coming off four straight nonconference wins at home. Concordia (10-9, 3-4 MPSF) came out strong offensively and hit .383, the highest mark for the Eagles since Jan. 22.
Concordia kicked off the match with a 25-21 win in the first set. The Lopes struggled to stop the Concordia offensive attack, which hit .480 with middle blocker Owen Chun collecting seven of his season-high 24 kills. The Lopes were down 14-13, but the Eagles went on a 5-0 run to put the set out of reach at 19-13. GCU was able to get within two late, but two straight points from the Eagles closed out the set.
In the second set, the Lopes dropped a long 36-34 second set for GCU's 10th extra-points set this season. The Lopes had to come behind from an early six-point deficit to force extra points after falling behind 13-7. Down 23-20, the Lopes went on a 4-0 run to hold a match point but a Christian Janke service error tied up the match.
As the teams went back and forth, the Lopes held 10 set points but were unable to put it away. A kill by Concordia's Jonathan Carlson and a GCU attacking error ended the set.
Concordia finished the match with a 25-23, third-set win. The Lopes held a 14-9 lead thanks to outside hitters Camden Gianni and Janke combining for six kills, but the Eagles responded with a 7-2 run to regain the lead at 16-15. GCU held another late 23-21 lead but the Eagles scored four straight to complete the 3-0 win.
Gianni finished with a team-high 17 kills while Janke and opposite Hugo Fischer finished with 13 and 10 kills, respectively.
The Lopes and Eagles will meet again Saturday at 7 p.m.
Team Stats
GCU
CUI
Kills
49
46
Errors
15
10
Attempts
94
94
Hitting %
.362
.383
Points
57.5
58
Assists
47
44
Aces
3
7
Blocks
5.5
5
Game Leaders
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
13
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
OPP
/ Men's Volleyball
OH
/ Men's Volleyball
OH
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