Grand Canyon Drops Match 0-3 to Buckeyes

The Grand Canyon University men’s volleyball team dropped the second match 0-3 of the two match series against third ranked Ohio State University tonight in Antelope Gymnasium.

Tonight was the biggest crowd the ‘Lopes have had all season as fans from both sides came out to support their team. The energy was high and Grand Canyon competed with the Buckeyes but they were unable to take a game off the opponent. In all three sets, the scores were close at the beginning but it was the Buckeyes who were able to take off and execute to grab the victory 3-0 (16-25, 20-25, 16-25).

The teams were even statistically in kills, both had 32 for the contest. GCU’s Keith Smith (Whittier, CA, California High School) had 27 assists to Steven Kehoe’s 26. The Buckeyes had a defensive advantage 26 digs to 16.

Freshman outside Ben Ponnet (Merchtem, Belgium, OLVC) had nine kills, three digs, and two blocks. Ponnet had a slow start with zero kills in the first set but came back in the second with six. Jordon Tarantino (Valley Center, CA , Valley Center , Palomar Community College) had seven kills and Jake Wekell (Tempe, AZ, Marcos de Niza) contributed six. Wekell also added four digs and two blocks.

Smith had a match high 27 assists and had two kills on three attempts to hit .667 in the contest.

The ‘Lopes drop to 8-17 overall and 0-5 in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. Conference play will continue at Ball State University in Munice, IN on April 1.