Grand Canyon makes No. 7 USC work for win
LOS ANGELES -- GCU didn't make things easy for
No. 7 USC at Galen Center Thursday.
The Antelopes (14-21) lost 3-0, but had leads in each contest
against last year's national runner-up and four-time national
champ, in dropping sets 30-27, 30-20, 30-26.
In the first set, GCU led 7-6 on a kill from freshman
Connor Dougherty (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley)
and after trailing 21-17, rallied to tie it 22-22. Dougherty had
five first-set kills. Frosh setter Brad Moore (Orange,
Calif./Lutheran) had 14 assists.
A Dougherty kill and USC attack error put the Antelopes ahead 10-8
in the second set. The Trojans answered with the next four points.
GCU couldn't catch up. Moore had nine assists and a block assist in
the set.
GCU's best set was the third, scoring the game's first four points.
Sophomore Brock Hutchins (Gilbert,
Ariz./Highland/Hawai'i) had two kills and combined on a
block with Dougherty. GCU led as much as 7-2. USC came back to lead
11-10, but back-to-back kills from Hutchins tied it, 20-20.
Hutchins had four kills and two blocks in the third.
Dougherty finished with 13 kills and a .391 attack percentage.
Hutchins had 11 kills. Moore had 36 assists and freshman libero
Trent Bruns (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo)
had 11 digs.
USC improved to 11-9.
GCU returns to Antelope Gym April 1-2 for a pair of 7 p.m. matches
against MIVA leader Loyola-Chicago.
