Anderson plays heroicly in electric 5-set win over UCSD

Saturday, February 15

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

9-1,0-0MPSF

UC San Diego

9-4,0-0Big West

UC San Diego

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Brayden Stenner

Anderson plays heroicly in electric 5-set win over UCSD

2/15/2025 11:35:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

Graduate leads Lopes with 19 kills on 38 attempts for .474 clip

By: Nathan Peters

The No. 10 Grand Canyon men's volleyball team closed the weekend with a captivating five-set victory against No. 12 UC San Diego on Saturday night at Global Credit Union Arena.

The Lopes (9-1) came into the match with a goal to play cleaner than Friday's four-set home victory against UCSD. The match went longer, but the Lopes' numbers proved that the goal was achieved.

The first set showcased UCSD offense with the Tritons winning 25-20, thanks to a 6-0 run late in the set. The opening game also ultimately showed the Lopes' trust in each other to bounce back from early adversity.

"We felt like we knew what we had to do," GCU coach Jon Girten said. "I think we left that first set still feeling like we were playing well and felt confident about how we played that set better than any sets we played yesterday."

The Lopes opened the second leading 7-2 with five of those points coming from junior outside hitter Cole Ottmar. The Spangle, Washington, native tallied 12 kills, three assisted blocks, four digs and a service ace.

"We just had to figure out some ways to get some different guys the ball and Braedon Marquardt came in and balled out," Girten said of the freshman. " We needed what he brought to the table."

Another big moment came from senior middle blocker Cole Duncanson went diving for a dig that eventually led to a triple block from Marquardt, junior setter Jaxon Herr and senior outside hitter Karter Rogers to stretch the lead to 10-4.

Marquardt finished the match with six kills, five blocks and three digs.

The Lopes evened the match at 1-1 by winning the set 25-21 with opposite Jarrett Anderson hitting .583 from seven kills on 12 swings.

Anderson began the season banged up but made his presence known Saturday. The graduate student ended the night with a piping-hot 19 kills on 38 attempts for a clip of .474. Anderson also added seven digs to the effort.

"Obviously he's experienced," Lopes coach Bryan Dell'Amico said. "He played at a very high level for us last year in big matches, so he was ready for this. We decided tonight was the night to let him go and obviously you saw what he did. He was amazing offensively for us and just brought such consistency."

A 4-0 UCSD run to start the third set put the Tritons in control the remainder of the set.

The Lopes utilized depth, including freshman setter Kyle Zediker, who sparked some energy to prepare the team for the fight ahead.

The fourth set was tied at 3-3 early before a 5-1 run put the Lopes in a strong position. The Lopes offense found some rhythm and went on to win the set 25-18 with two Anderson kills off Herr assists.

Herr had a monster night for the Lopes with 42 assists and 12 digs.

"I don't know that anybody wants it more than he does," Girten said of Herr. "There's no off switch on Jaxon, and at times, the volume knob probably goes a little further than it needs to, but we love him because we know that he wants to do the right things."

Herr's leadership extends beyond his playing abilities.

"We credited him after the match for, when we went with Zediker, and immediately Jaxon was talking to Kyle, trying to give him feedback," Girten said. "He is just the consummate effort and glue guy, when we need him to make a play, he finds a way to make a play," Girten said.

The fifth set had a heavy dose of Anderson. Fellow opposite Trent Moser, a junior, also made important plays down the stretch.

"Kudos to Trent because Trent has been playing amazing for us and stepped in and has been awesome on the right side, and now we're asking him to go in and get us out of row one, and he's been successful at it both nights," Dell'Amico said. "He's been so mature about it. He has the interests of the team ahead of himself right now."

Marquardt played a pivotal four points at the service line for GCU to open the fifth 4-2.

Anderson and Rogers teamed for two kills ahead of the side switch for a GCU lead of 8-6.

Rogers had 12 kills with a match- and season-high four service aces.

A decisive score in a 13-13 match came off another Anderson kill before putting down a service ace.

At 15-15, a UCSD service error gave the Lopes the edge, thanks to the loud environment at Global Credit Union Arena.

"The gameday environment that we have here and the support that we get from the students and the Arizona community as a whole, it's awesome," Dell'Amico said. "Every team that comes in here comments on what a great facility and a great atmosphere we have. It's good for the game and is such a huge lift to have that extra spark to say, 'Let's take care of business right here. Let's take care of home."

Rogers and Anderson acted as the closers in the climax, with a 3-0 run off of a Rogers kill, Anderson kill and one last Rogers kill to finish the match.

The Lopes will hit the road to take on No. 13 CSUN on Wednesday night before a 2024 Final Four rematch at No. 1 Long Beach State on Friday night at the Pyramid.

"I still don't think we've played anywhere near our best or what we're capable of," Girten said. "I think we're starting to see glimpses of it but we're just not seeing it consistently enough and the message going into next week in training is to not be satisfied, and I think that's the vibe that we get from the guys. They like the win and they like the way that we're trending, but they also are very aware that we've got a long way to go to get to where we're capable of getting to."