Gauchos take 1st of 2 matches in Phoenix

Friday, January 24

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

4-1,0-0MPSF

UC Santa Barbara

5-0,0-0Big West

UC Santa Barbara

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Nate Cochran

1/24/2025 8:53:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

GCU freshman Jordan offers silver lining in 3-set loss to No.16 UCSB

By: Nathan Peters

The No. 10 Grand Canyon men's volleyball team lost Friday night to No. 16 UC Santa Barbara 25-16, 25-23, 25-19 in the first of two weekend matches at Global Credit Union Arena.

The Lopes (4-1) struggled to stop the nation's leader in kills per set with the Gauchos (5-0) landing 42 kills on the night.

GCU freshman middle blocker Trevell Jordan was a bright spot for the Lopes with six kills on a hitting clip of .500, along with six assisted blocks.

In the first set, GCU led 5-4 before a UCSB run put the Gauchos in front 10-5, leading to UCSB eventually winning the set 25-16.

Lopes graduate outside hitter Karter Rogers tallied four on his five kills in the opening set.

GCU freshman setter Kyle Zediker entered the match late in the first set and finished the match with 15 assists, four blocks, two digs and two kills coming off a dump and a tool.

Neither team led by more than a point for the first half of the second set, when the Lopes last held a lead at 16-15 on a kill by junior opposite Trent Moser off Zediker's assist.

UC Santa Barbara put together the second set's first run with five unanswered points to pull in front 20-16. The young Lopes rallied with an assisted block from Zediker and Jordan, an attacking error, and a Jordan kill to put the Lopes within one at 23-22.

A service error gave UC Santa Barbara two set points, the last of which was taken on one of 6-foot-10 outside hitter George Bruenig's season-best 12 kills.

GCU opposite Jarrett Anderson returned for limited action Friday night after missing the last three matches due to injury.

The Lopes were given chances to rally in the match with the Gauchos having trouble serving. UC Santa Barbara made 19 service errors to the Lopes' nine.

GCU led 9-8 on UCSB's fourth service error of the third set before another Gauchos 5-0 run resulted in a 13-9 lead.

Lopes freshmen pins Connor Oldani and Braedon Marquardt saw time in the back half of the match. The young core had positive moments, but the UCSB offense continued to make plays and go on runs when they were needed the most.

Riggs Guy, a Gauchos freshman outside hitter, led the match with 15 kills, the last of which set up match point before a GCU attacking error sealed the match with a 25-19 third set. The win avenged GCU's four-set win in Santa Barbara last season.

The Lopes will look to regroup and host a rematch Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Global Credit Union Arena.