No. 5 USC rallies to win at GCU in 5 sets

Friday, April 15

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

16-10,6-5MPSF

USC

20-6,7-4MPSF

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Southern California	21	15	25	25	15	3
Grand Canyon	25	25	14	23	12	2

Photo by: Skyler Coblentz

4/15/2022 9:16:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

10th-ranked Lopes jump out to 2-0 lead in conference loss

By: Jerob Moon

The 10th-ranked Grand Canyon men's volleyball team kicked off the final weekend of the regular season with a close 3-2 loss to No. 5 USC at GCU Arena on Friday night.

The Lopes (16-10, 6-5 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) jumped out to a 2-0 match lead in front of a loud 928 fans, but the Trojans (20-6, 7-4 MPSF) verified their top-five ranking with three straight set wins to steal the match.

Despite hitting just .179, the Lopes were able to lean on a strong service game to take the first set 25-21. Junior outside hitter Christian Janke and junior opposite Hugo Fischer combined for the three aces while the Lopes took advantage of four USC service errors.

GCU jumped to a 10-6 lead, but USC regained the lead late at 20-19. The Lopes were able to close out the set on a 6-1 run with redshirt sophomore outside hitter Camden Gianni and Fischer combining for three kills while the Trojans committed three attacking errors.

The second set was all GCU in a 25-15 win. USC scored the first point. From then on, it was all Lopes, as they went on a 9-2 run to lead 14-6. The GCU offense came alive to the tune of .308 hitting while the Trojans had just eight kills and six errors in the frame. Janke and redshirt junior middle blocker Kyle Thompson led the way for GCU with three kills apiece while the team recorded three more aces.

Down 2-0, USC responded with an equally dominant third set, winning 25-14. The GCU offense couldn't find a rhythm as it finished with just seven kills and 10 errors.

The Trojans were able to level the match at 2-2 with a close 25-23 fourth set. Both teams had great offensive numbers with GCU recording a .619 hitting mark and USC countering with a .500 clip.

Both teams went back and forth through most of the set before USC held a 22-18 lead that forced a GCU timeout. Out of the timeout, Thompson and Gianni tallied two kills to help pull GCU within one at 22-21. Thompson collected another kill to pull GCU back to one point again at 24-23, but USC's Sam Kobrine closed it out with a kill.

In the deciding fifth set, the Trojans led wire to wire after taking a 6-2 lead. GCU mustered a late 3-0 run to close the gap to 14-12, but Kobrine once again finished the set with his 17th kill of the match.

In the loss, Gianni led the way for GCU with 16 kills while redshirt sophomore middle blocker Jacob Guerber had four solo blocks. Thompson hit over .500 for the third consecutive match, finishing with 10 kills on just 12 attempts.

GCU and USC will square off Saturday in the regular-season finale at 4 p.m. in GCU Arena.