Marathon set highlights 3-0 GCU win

Saturday, March 25

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

21-2,6-2MPSF

Concordia

7-13,1-5MPSF

CUI

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Sebastian Molinar

3/25/2023 8:59:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

Strong service games carry Lopes to 12th shutout of season

By: Jerob Moon

The Grand Canyon men's volleyball team got back on track on Saturday night with a 3-0 sweep over Concordia-Irvine at GCU Arena.

The Lopes (21-2, 7-2) avenged their first home loss on Friday night with their 12th shutout of the season in a rematch against the Golden Eagles. GCU won a marathon first set, 37-35, before taking care of business in the second and third sets. A trio of Lopes reached double-digit kills with outside hitters Camden Gianni and Jackson Hickman each collecting 11 kills. Gianni, a junior, also had a great service game with four aces and the Lopes finished with seven as a team.

GCU tied their longest set of the season opening the match with a 37-35 win. Both teams combined for 82 attacking attempts in the set, which featured 18 ties and six lead changes. GCU held a 24-21 lead before Concodia-Irvine (7-13, 1-5 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) went on a 3-0 run to tie up the score and force extra points. Down 35-34, the match point was saved for the Lopes on a Golden Eagles service error. Gianni then stepped up to the service line and recorded two straight aces to end the set.

The GCU offense found its rhythm in a 25-22 second-set win. GCU sophomore setter Nicholas Slight spread out his set-high 11 assists to five Lopes in a balanced attack that produced a .400 hitting percentage. Up 10-9, the Lopes took control of the set with a 6-2 run to lead 16-11. That lead was more than enough for the Lopes to close it out on a Hickman kill at 24-22.

The Lopes led wire to wire in the third set, ending the match with a dominant 25-16 win. GCU had just two attacking errors on 22 attempts with Hickman leading the way with five kills. Leading 17-12, the Lopes turned to service substitute Cooper Herndon and the GCU sophomore guided the Lopes on a 4-0 run while adding two service aces.

The No. 5 Lopes will host No. 3 UCLA for the final two home matches at GCU Arena next week on Friday and Saturday nights.