Lopes fall to No. 9 Pepperdine in 4

Thursday, February 27

Malibu, Calif.

8 p.m.

Grand Canyon

9-4,0-1MPSF

Pepperdine

9-3,1-0MPSF

Grand Canyon

Pepperdine

Photo by: Slate Mitchell

2/27/2025 11:09:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

Anderson, Herr, Rogers each have strong offensive showings on road

By: Nathan Peters

MALIBU, Calif – The No. 12 Grand Canyon men's volleyball team put up a strong fight but ultimately fell 3-1 to No. 9 Pepperdine on Thursday night at Firestone Fieldhouse.

Despite impressive individual performances, the Lopes (9-4, 0-1 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) struggled to counter the Waves' service pressure and size at the net.

Pepperdine took early control in the first set, hitting .478 while GCU worked to keep pace. Graduate outside hitter Karter Rogers and junior outside hitter Trent Moser contributed early kills, but the Waves' efficiency on offense proved too much, and they closed out the set 25-22.

Rogers finished with 14 kills on a .423 clip to go with five digs.

The Lopes responded in the second set with a dominant offensive performance, hitting an impressive .567 with 19 kills.

GCU built momentum with a 4-0 run midway through the set, sparked by graduate opposite Jarrett Anderson and Rogers, before a Moser kill helped clinch the set 25-23 and even the match at one set apiece.

Moser tallied 15 kills and seven digs.

In the third set, the Lopes kept pace with the Waves, capitalizing on strong swings from Anderson and Moser. GCU surged ahead with a 3-0 run, with junior setter Jaxon Herr dishing out assists to Rogers and Anderson.

Anderson was a constant threat Thursday with 15 kills, four service aces and nine digs with two blocks.

Herr finished the night with a career-high 54 assists to go with his seven digs.

Pepperdine's serving pressure disrupted GCU's rhythm, and a late push by the Waves allowed them to take the set 25-22.

The Waves had 12 service aces to the Lopes' five.

The fourth set saw a back-and-forth exchange, with GCU using a 4-1 run to stay within striking distance.

Starting middle blockers Cole Duncanson and Trevell Jordan were active offensively. Duncanson closed with eight kills on 11 attempts while Jordan had seven kills on 12 attempts.

Anderson and Rogers kept the Lopes alive with crucial kills while Herr continued to facilitate the attack. Despite the efforts, GCU fell 25-22 to Pepperdine, which was led by Cole Hartke with 18 kills.

GCU will play the second round Friday in Malibu at 8 p.m. (Phoenix time) as it continues MPSF play.