Lopes remain perfect in MPSF play

Friday, March 22

Irvine, Calif.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

20-2,8-0MPSF

Concordia Irvine

6-12,0-6MPSF

Grand Canyon

CUI

3/22/2024 10:30:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

2nd sweep of weekend builds anticipation for battle in LA

By: Nathan Peters

IRVINE, Calif. – The No. 5 Grand Canyon men's volleyball team picked up where it left off Friday night with a second sweep victory of Concordia Irvine on Saturday.

With the 25-22, 25-22, 25-20 win, the Lopes reached 20 overall wins this season and an 8-0 record in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play.

GCU (20-2, 8-0 WAC) shared time on the court with alterations to the recent starting lineup. Despite the new rotations, the match leader in kills was once again senior outside hitter Jackson Hickman with 14.

Hickman and graduate opposite Jarrett Anderson tied as the match leaders in points with 14.5 each.

Despite a 3-0 run from the Golden Eagles late in the first set, GCU closed out the set 25-22.

GCU sophomore setter Jaxon Herr started and played most of the match, tallying 26 assists before sharing the wealth with Nicholas Slight, who had 14.

The Lopes were trailing late in the second set with a score of 22-21 before a 4-0 run claimed the set. Three of the four points were kills by way of sophomore outside hitter Jordan Lucas.

GCU opened the third set on a 10-4 run with six combined kills from middle blockers Rico Wardlow and Cameron Thorne during that span. Wardlow closed the weekend with .722 hitting.

Thorne led the team in total blocks during the series at Concordia Irvine on Thursday and Friday, with eight in six sets.

The Lopes closed out the third and final set of the weekend 25-20. The win marks the third consecutive sweep against the Golden Eagles, dating back to last season.

GCU will next travel to UCLA for April 5 and 6 matches, where the top teams in the MPSF will collide before the final homestand against Pepperdine.