Grand Canyon finishes Invitational with 3-1 record

Twice Tuesday, Grand Canyon lost its first set during the GCU Invitational. Twice, the Antelopes came back to win. Finishing off the invitational with a tourney-best 3-1 record, GCU (8-14) added wins over Hope International and Clarke College, the No.2 and No.3 ranked programs, respectively, in the NAIA at Antelope Gym.

GCU beat No. 2 HIU, for the second time, 3-1 by set scores of 22-30, 30-26, 30-28, 30-25. After losing to Clarke Monday, GCU won Tuesday's contest 3-2 by scores of 25-30, 30-26, 27-30, 30-19, 15-10.

"We're getting a lot closer to finding the right lineup," said GCU sophomore outside hitter Brock Hutchins (Gilbert, Ariz./Highland/Hawai'i), who had a match-best in kills against both HIU (20) and Clarke (18). "We're getting more balance on offense and moving players around, having more options help when the defense begins keying on certain players."
GCU got contributions from a number of players. In the HIU win, Brennan Zotovich (Anthem, Ariz./Boulder Creek) and Nick Jensen (Herning, Denmark/Ikast Gymnasium/NJIT) joined Hutchins in double-digit kills with 12 each.

In the Clarke win, Tyler Capko (Las Vegas, Nev./Palo Verde) had 12 kills in only three games. Chris Lockwood (Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood) had 12 kills and Taylor Griffin (Tucson, Ariz./Ironwood Ridge) had 11.

Freshman libero Trent Bruns (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo) had 21 digs against HIU and 20 versus Clarke. Freshman setter Brad Moore (Orange, Calif./Lutheran) had 52 assists in the opener and added 59 more in the five-set victory.

GCU had nine service aces against Clarke, getting two each from Lockwood, Capko and Connor Dougherty (Aurora, Ill./Wabonise), who like Capko gave the Antelopes a spark in the final three sets against Clarke. Dougherty had six kills and a .500 hitting percentage.
Lockwood and Zotovich had six and five block assists, respectively, against the Royals, while Jensen had two solos and four assists. Moore had a team-best four block assists in the evening win over the Crusaders.

"This was good for us," said GCU coach Chad Speer on his team's two-day performance. "Those were both quality teams.

"We had a lot of contributors and off the bench. Brennan came off the bench (against HIU) and Connor and Tyler (did against Clarke) and really contributed. You have to have that in these long weeks with a lot of games."

GCU will play five matches over the weekend in Davenport, Iowa, starting Friday at 1 p.m. Phoenix time against Lindenwood. The Antelopes will also take on Park, Siena Heights, Moody Bible and host St. Ambrose during the weekend before returning to action in the MIVA with a home contest March 9 at 7 p.m. against Ball State.

All home matches can be seen live on the internet through the B2 Network. Links are available on the details section of the team's schedule and on the athletics home page daily schedule.