Lopes stay perfect at home with 3-0 sweep

Wednesday, March 15

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

19-1,5-1MPSF

Princeton

8-9,3-2EIVA

Princeton

Grand Canyon

3/15/2023 8:12:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

GCU improves to 19-1 and 14-0 at home with shutout win

By: Jerob Moon

The Grand Canyon men's volleyball team took care of business on Wednesday night with a 3-0 sweep over Princeton at GCU Arena.

It was the fourth sweep in the last five games for the Lopes (19-1) as they out hit Princeton (8-9) .279 to .209 with the defense coming up strong with nine blocks. Redshirt junior Camden Gianni led the way offensively for GCU with 12 kills on .348 hitting while junior middle blocker Rico Wardlow patrolled the net with four blocks.

The Lopes had their best offensive set of the night in the first winning 25-22 thanks to .310 hitting. Gianni and fellow outside hitter Jackson Hickman had 10 combined kills while the GCU defense gathered 11 digs with three blocks. The set was close throughout with 13 ties and just one lead change that came as GCU took a 17-16 lead.

Tied at 20-20 the Lopes opened their largest lead of the set with a 3-0 run that was aided by a Princeton service and attacking errors. GCU took advantage of Princeton's service errors all night as the Tigers finished with 21 compared to 13 from the Lopes.

GCU took a 2-0 lead with a 25-20 second set win. Gianni along with redshirt sophomore Karter Rogers controlled the service game with four combined aces in the set. GCU jumped out to an early 8-3 lead in the set and held the advantage the rest of the way. Back-to-back blocks by Wardlow put GCU up 18-11 and Rogers had two straight aces to get GCU to set point at 24-17.

The Lopes closed out the match with a 25-22 third set win. The GCU defense came to play with four blocks in the set while forcing nine Princeton attacking errors which added up to a .172 hitting percentage for the Tigers. Along with seven Princeton service errors the Lopes collected just eight kills in the set.

Down late 20-19, the Lopes went on a 5-1 run to get to match point. Gianni had a kill to start the run while freshman middle blocker Cameron Throne had a block and kill on two straight GCU points. A kill by Hickman ended the match.

The Lopes and Tigers will meet again on Friday at GCU Arena at 4 p.m.