Team depth pushes Lopes to 11-0

Friday, February 10

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

11-0,0-0MPSF

Arizona Christian

0-1

Arizona Christian

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Skyler Coblentz

2/10/2023 8:04:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

Lopes used 16 players in sweep over Arizona Christian

By: Jerob Moon

The Grand Canyon men's volleyball team kept its winning ways going with a 3-0 shutout over Arizona Christian in GCU Arena on Friday night.

The No. 5 Lopes (11-0) used most of their roster with 16 players getting action in their final tune-up before the start of Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play next week.

GCU hit .407 in the match and started strongly in the first set with just three attacking errors in a 25-12 win. The Lopes used their usual starting lineup in the set and reigning American Volleyball Coaches Association National Player of the Week Jackson Hickman led the way with six kills on .625 hitting. The Lopes fell behind 4-1 but flipped the script with a extended 16-2 run that featured kills from four players to put the lead out of reach.

GCU head coach Matt Werle moved to his bench in the second set, replacing six players in a 25-20 set win. Freshman setter Jaxon Herr helped guide the offense with 16 assists while the team hit .314 with just six errors on 35 attacks. Junior outside hitter Camden Gianni and sophomore outside hitter Karter Rogers combined for 10 kills in the set. The Lopes took the lead at 3-2 and never gave it back. The Firestorm (1-1) trimmed the GCU lead to 20-18, but the Lopes closed out on a 5-2 run to earn the set win.

In the third set, a pair of Lopes made its collegiate debut in a 25-21 win. Redshirt freshmen setter Aidan Case and redshirt freshman middle blocker Nicholas Bentlage slotted into the lineup and made immediate impacts. Case finished with 12 assists, the first of his collegiate career coming off a Gianni kill that tied the score at 2-2. Bentlage recorded his first collegiate kill as part of a 3-0 GCU run that put the Lopes up 11-7. The 6-foot-10 Prosper, Texas, native also collected a service ace late in the set to put GCU up 23-18.

Senior middle blocker Troy Culp finished the match with a kill to push GCU to 11-0, extending the best start in program history.

The team will enjoy the weekend off before turning its attention to the start of Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play. The Lopes will enter conference play as the only undefeated team, taking that perfect record to No. 12 USC on Feb. 15 and 17.