PHOENIX – Will Rottman registered a match-high 18 kills, but No. 8 Stanford came up short at No. 1 Grand Canyon, 20-25, 26-28, 25-27, Friday, at GCU Arena.
Grand Canyon (14-0, 5-0 MPSF), the only undefeated team in the nation, out hit Stanford (8-7, 1-2 MPSF) .286 to .250. The Lopes finished with 9.5 blocks and held a 40-36 advantage in digs and a 4-3 edge in aces.
Rottman's 18 kills came on .395 hitting to go with four digs, a pair of aces and an assist. Opposite Theo Snoey added nine kills, eight digs and a block.
Hi Will ?????
— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) March 2, 2024
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Setter Nathan Lietzke turned in 37 assists, eight digs, two kills and four blocks, including three of the solo variety. Libero Luke Turner collected seven digs and an assist.
Lietzke at the net, again ????
— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) March 2, 2024
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For the match, there were 32 tie scores and 15 lead changes.
Middle blocker Ethan Hill registered six kills on 12 errorless swings to post a .500 attack percentage, while Nathaniel Gates added four kills on .300 hitting, a block and an ace.
Outside hitter Alex Rottman had two kills, four digs and a solo block, while Ryan DuRoss added three kills, four digs and a block.
Look out below ??
— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) March 2, 2024
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GCU was led by opposite Camden Gianni's 14 kills, eight digs, three blocks and two aces. Middle blocker Cameron Thorne chipped in with nine kills on .667 hitting and four blocks, while fellow middle Rico Wardlow finished with eight kills on a .583 attack percentage and five blocks.
Stanford and GCU meet again on Sunday at 11 a.m. PT on ESPN+.