New-look Lopes show off balanced offense in win

Friday, January 10

Newark, N.J.

4 p.m.

Grand Canyon

1-0,0-0MPSF

NJIT

0-1,0-0EIVA

Grand Canyon

NJIT

Photo by: Nathan Peters

1/10/2025 9:19:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

Career night from pins leads No.9 GCU past NJIT 3-1

By: Nathan Peters

NEWARK, N.J. – The No. 9 Grand Canyon men's volleyball team opened the season with a 25-21, 25-27, 25-20, 25-20 win at NJIT on Friday night.

Transfers Cole Duncanson, Trent Moser and Cole Ottmar made their presence known, accounting for 24 of GCU's 52 kills. Lopes freshman middle blocker Trevell Jordan earned the starting nod and took advantage by landing nine kills on 15 swings.

"I am really pleased with the level of competitiveness in our gym," GCU head coach Matt Werle said. "We really did not know who was going to start until yesterday."

The Lopes' depth was evident when Moser entered for GCU returning star Jarrett Anderson on the right side.

"For Trent to come in not in his natural position and produce what he produced, his numbers don't show it, but he impacted the game so positively for us," Werle said.

An assisted block from Duncanson, junior setter Jaxon Herr and graduate outside hitter Karter Rogers put the score at 17-12 in the first set and forced an NJIT timeout. The Lopes went on to claim the opening set 25-21.

Herr did a little bit of everything Friday, leading the match in assists with 37 along with 11 digs, seven blocks and four kills.

Herr's assist count, two off his career high, marks the most in a season-opening match for a GCU setter since the 2022 season.

'He is going to find a nice rhythm," Werle said. "The more time that he spends under the lights, the better he's going to be. He's usually very hopped up on adrenaline, so getting himself to kind of focus on his breathing and be mindful and process driven as opposed to flashy. I think we could probably run the middle of court a little bit more, but you know, Jaxon's doing a nice job for us."

The home squad took a tight second set 27-25 to knot the match at one set a piece.

Rogers landed a drop shot over the block early in the third to re-establish the offensive efforts. The Denver native finished the match with a career-high 12 kills along with six digs.

A Jordan kill closed the set 25-20 to put the Lopes back in the driver seat for a 2-1 match lead.

GCU senior libero Cooper Herndon pancaked an NJIT attack to set up an Ottmar kill for GCU in the fourth set. Ottmar finished with a career-high 12 kills on a .417 hitting clip.

The Lopes found another assisted block from Herr, Rogers and Duncanson to seal the season-opening match with a 25-20 fourth set. Duncanson led the match with nine total blocks.

GCU will play at NJIT again Saturday at 5 p.m. (Phoenix time).

"This is a great matchup for us," Werle said. "What NJIT does with their level of fire and competitiveness, along with the veterans on their team that are good at the game. I think that this is a healthy challenge for us to see how we respond. I think both teams are going to be a lot better and we are going to have to raise our level."