For head coach Matt Werle and GCU Athletics, Friday was another milestone with the Lopes taking the court as the top-ranked team in the nation.
“We’re not done,” Werle said. “We’re very proud of that mark, which should go without saying. But ultimately, we want to be No. 1 come that first weekend in May. It’s really what we are striving for, and we’re trying to get as many wins along the way as possible to help build that confidence and push to the end.”
Both teams were locked in defensively from the start. GCU collected 16 digs and three blocks on the way to a 25-20 win in the first set.
Multiple long rallies were the story of the set as GCU outhit Stanford .200 to .122 while Stanford (8-7, 1-2 MPSF) edged the Lopes in attacks 41-35. Stanford took a 7-5 lead thanks to a 4-0 run, but the Lopes answered with a 5-0 run and held the lead for the rest of the set.
“Our service pressure was great and we kept that on them,” Werle said. “It didn’t create the aces that we are capable of producing. But we keep preaching that we want our blocking defense to be first and foremost as the start of every single set and every single match. We know our offense can be lethal, so we’re trying to focus on that right now.”
Photo by David Kadlubowski/Grand Canyon Athletics
The Lopes utilized their blocking and service game late in the second and third sets to close out the match. In the second frame, the Lopes trailed 21-19 after a 4-0 Stanford run. GCU won four of the next seven points to tie the match at 24-24, but the Cardinal rallied to a 26-25 lead for set point.
A kill from sophomore middle blocker Cameron Thorne tied the match, and an ace from junior outside hitter Karter Rogers gave GCU a set point at 27-26. A block by Thorne and senior outside hitter Camden Gianni closed out the set and put GCU ahead 2-0 in the match.
“We started getting a little more balanced offensively.” Werle said. “But in the end, it was a full team effort. (Graduate) Jarrett (Anderson) coming off the bench provided a spark in the run late in the third. It really put us over the top and gave us the confidence to finish strong.”
Anderson was involved in another late GCU rally late in the third set. With Stanford leading 22-18, Anderson once again toed the service line and GCU assembled a 5-1 run to tie the score at 23-23.
Tied at 25-25, Rogers closed out the set and the match with two straight kills.
Gianni led the Lopes with 14 kills and Thorne added nine kills on .667 hitting. Junior libero Cooper Herndon collected a career-high 13 digs and finished with a perfect reception percentage on 31 serves.
The Lopes and Cardinal will stage a rematch at noon Sunday in Global Credit Union Arena, where a crowd of 1,528 watched Friday night’s match.
Press Release courtesy of Grand Canyon Athletics – Jerob Moon
Click on Logo
Athletics – Jeroboam
