GCU drops 4-set match at No. 3 USC

Friday, March 28

Los Angeles, Calif.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

14-7,3-4MPSF

USC

17-2,5-0MPSF

Grand Canyon

Southern California

Photo by: Slate Mitchell

3/28/2025 10:13:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

Lopes look to use third set success in 2nd night

By: Nathan Peters

LOS ANGELES – The Grand Canyon men's volleyball team battled hard but fell in a four-set road match against No. 3 USC at Galen Center.

GCU (14-7, 3-4 MPSF) dropped the first two sets before taking the third set. However, USC (17-2, 5-0 MPSF) closed out the match in the fourth to secure the victory with set scores of 25-17, 25-18, 17-25, and 25-19.

Junior outside hitter Cole Ottmar led the Lopes' offense with 14 kills on a .387 hitting clip.

Freshman middle blocker Braedon Marquardt got the start and closed the night with 10 kills on a scorching .750 with 12 attempts. Marquardt additionally led the team in blocks with four.

The opening set saw an early back-and-forth battle with 10 ties and four lead changes before the host Trojans went on a 5-0 run to lead 18-13. Eventually winning the set 25-17.

USC used the same energy to carry a 5-2 second set start. The Trojans were led by opposite Jack Deuchar (20 kills) and outside hitter Dillon Klein (18 kills).

USC would go on to win the set 25-18 on a block error.

The GCU squad found some life in the third set, with a 20-15 lead late in the third set behind a heavy dose of Trent Moser kills.

Moser tallied a total of 11 kills with five coming from the third frame alone.

GCU finished the set on a 5-2 run with a Marquardt kill and Jaxon Herr assist putting the Lopes on the board.

Herr came off the bench and dished 27 assists with five digs.

The third set victory gave GCU some momentum before the Trojans opened the fourth 9-4 to get the early match rhythm back.

USC closed the match 25-19. GCU hit .320 as a team, the highest any squad has produced against the Trojans in the last eight matches.

GCU will look to bounce back Saturday at 5 p.m. against USC for the second of two in Los Angeles.