Lopes take gutsy 3-1 win against Tritons

Friday, February 14

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

8-1,0-0MPSF

UC San Diego

9-3,0-0Big West

UC San Diego

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Nate Cochran

2/14/2025 9:41:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

GCU prevails through 1st match in 13 days, plays again Saturday

By: Nathan Peters

The No. 10 Grand Canyon men's volleyball team spent Valentine's Day with a 3-1 victory against No. 12 UC San Diego in the first match led by coaches Bryan Dell'Amico and Jon Girten.

The Lopes (8-1) got off to a hot start before UCSD was able to make strong adjustments, with GCU finding a way to win in the end.

"The kids have been through a whirlwind over the last 10 days and Jon and I both told them we just couldn't be more proud of the way they responded in practice all week," Dell'Amico said.

Of its wins this season, GCU had lows in kills and hitting percentage but still found a way to get the job done.

"The team had a great week of practice and preparation, and I mean looking at the numbers, they're kind of ugly on our side, but it is just a testament to these guys just deciding, 'Hey, we're bonding together, we're not going to quit on anything, we're going to believe in ourselves,' and they just fought through everything that came at them tonight," Dell'Amico said. "To find that, it's one of the most gutsy wins I've been a part of and I couldn't be more proud of what they did."

The first set was tight throughout, with a deadlock at 19-19. The Lopes went on a 4-1 run off kills from junior outside hitter Cole Ottmar and senior middle blocker Cole Duncanson.

Ottmar had a team-high 10 kills with six digs.

GCU was able to hold its lead and take the first set 25-23 off a Triton error.

In the second set, GCU trailed 18-16 before a substitution turned the tides.

Graduate opposite Jarrett Anderson entered the match and, from then on, the second set belonged to the Lopes.

GCU closed the set on a 9-2 run with six consecutive points stemming from Anderson at the service line for a set win of 25-20 and a 2-0 match lead.

"Jarrett has struggled with the injuries early in the season, and he's just been trying to get healthy, but this last week he's been so good in the practice gym, and you can really see Jerry (Jarrett) from last year that was really coming on," Dell'Amico said. "He came in and got that done, and it just sparked us."

The third set was a dominant effort from the Tritons, who took it 25-12 to force a fourth set.

The match marked a special night for Jon Girten, a former UCSD assistant coach until this season.

"I have known those guys for a long time, but it also helps because I know their style," Girten said. "I know some of the way they like to play, so there's a lot of familiarity there and for it to be the first night of Bryan and I together, to play them was just an added level of focus. They are a really good team and so to find a way to win tonight is huge for us."

The fourth and final set proved to be a battle.

With GCU freshman middle blocker Braedon Marquartd checking into the match during the third, the Anaheim Hills native blasted an ace to put the Lopes ahead 7-4.

The Lopes eventually found a clutch kill from freshman middle Trevell Jordan to tie the set 23-23.

Jordan had eight kills on a .357 hitting clip.

The Lopes subbed Moser back in at 24-24 before he ripped a kill on an assist from junior setter Jaxon Herr.

Herr had 35 assists, seven digs and three assisted-blocks on the night.

GCU graduate outside hitter Karter Rogers provided a service ace before a UCSD attack error marked the final blow in a 26-24 set win that clinched the 3-1 match for GCU.

Rogers' ace marked one of five for the Lopes on Friday night.

"I think tomorrow is going to really show a lot, can we play a little bit cleaner and if not, can we still find ways to win," Girten said. "They are going to show up. UCSD has a veteran team. They're going to bring everything to the table tomorrow, and I think we have got to be a little bit better, but I think our guys know that."

The Lopes will host UC San Diego at 7 p.m. Saturday in Global Credit Union Arena.

"I think good teams find ways to split these matches, but great teams find ways to win both," Girten said.