Skip to main content

MVB Blocks Way to Victory over GCU

Mar 3, 2022
Merrick McHenry attacks at the net.

The No. 1 UCLA men's volleyball team (11-2, 3-0) used a season-high 13.0 blocks to power past No. 8 Grand Canyon (9-7, 3-2) in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) match played on Thursday night in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Scores of the contest were 25-14, 25-19, 25-21.
 
Guy Genis led the Bruins with a couple of block solos and five block assists. Merrick McHenry added five block assists and hit .857 with six kills. UCLA hit .403 for the match while limiting a third straight opponent to under .200 as the 'Lopes hit .172 on the night. The same two teams will meet again on Friday evening at 5 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom.
 
UCLA moved out to an 8-3 lead to begin set one after a triple block by Ethan Champlin, McHenry and Miles Partain was followed up by a Champlin/McHenry combo stuff. GCU closed to 11-8, but UCLA answered with four straight points including an ace from Kevin Kobrine. A Champlin swing made it 18-9. Genis' service ace put UCLA ahead 20-10. Kills by McHenry and Genis ended the set at 25-14.
 
In set two, Grand Canyon grabbed a 4-6 edge. A Kobrine kill tied the score at 7-all. The Bruin snapped a 10-all tie with an Alex Knight kill and a Kobrine ace. Another Knight kill put UCLA in front 17-13. A McHenry swing upped the margin to 19-15. Three straight blocks produced points 23, 24 and 25 for a 25-19 win. UCLA hit .650 for the frame with no errors on 20 attempts.
 
The Bruins stormed out to a 6-2 lead to begin set three. GCU rallied to level the score at 8-each. After the 'Lopes took an 8-9 lead, the Bruins put together three straight points, the last coming on a Champlin block solo. Grand Canyon answered to tie the score at 14. UCLA produced another three-point run concluding with a Genis kill for a 17-14 edge. Kobrine's service ace expanded the margin to 21-15. GCU closed to 23-20, but UCLA responded with a Champlin cross court kill and a McHenry kill for a 25-21 victory.