GCU loses opener; Hutchins sets 3-game kill mark
GCU loses opener; Hutchins sets 3-game kill mark
STOCKTON, Calif. -- Grand Canyon University's men's volleyball team lost their season opener to UC Santa Cruz at the University of Pacific Friday. The Antelopes lost 3-0 by set scores of 30-21, 30-27, 30-26.
In the loss, sophomore Brock Hutchins (Gilbert, Ariz./Highland/Hawaii) set a new school mark for kills in a three-game match with 16. He also had six digs and a hitting percentage of .273.
Sophomore Nick Jensen (pictured, Herning, Denmark/Ikast Gymnasium/NJIT) had 12 kills and a .476 hitting percentage, marking only the third time in the school's brief history a hitter (with 12 attempts or more) has hit over .400. Jensen had just two errors in 21 attempts.
After falling in the first set, GCU led during the second, extending its advantage to 11-8 on back-to-back kills from freshman Chris Lockwood (Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood) and Hutchins. Both came on the serve of sophomore Taylor Griffin (Tucson, Ariz./Ironwood Ridge). Freshman setter Brad Moore (Orange, Calif./Lutheran) had assists on both kills and a team-high 37 assists. It was the second most assists by a GCU player in a three-set match (Chris Bradshaw had 39 in a 3-setter last season).
UCSC (1-1) thwarted the rally by finishing the set on a 7-4 run.
GCU freshman libero Trent Bruns (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo) led the Antelopes with 11 digs. Lockwood added four block assists. Freshman Robbie Brannick (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) had three block assists.
