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Purdue Fort Wayne
Grand Canyon
IPFW Survives Grand Canyon University
2/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
Feb. 13, 2009
Fort Wayne, IN - After taking a large lead in the first set Friday night, the IPFW men's volleyball team 5-3 (1-2 MIVA) looked to be in cruise control. However the Mastodons had to rally to a win over the Antelopes from Grand Canyon University (1-10) 3-1 (30-19, 32-34, 30-28, 30-26).
In the first four-set match for the Mastodons this year, the first-year Antelopes put up a fight at the Hilliard Gates Sports Center.
Sophomore Darryl Shank led all players with 26 points as he collected a double-double en route to a career high 22 kills, (22-8-48), 10 digs, four block assists and two service aces. Fellow sophomore Darryl Shank also had a double-double, his first, with 19 kills, (19-4-41), 10 digs, and six block assists (22 points).
Oliver Kook had eight kills in the effort while Phil Peterson had six, Berg notched five, and both Jonathan Meyer and Dan Mader had three kills in the effort.
Junior Matt Pliske led all players with 12 digs while junior Nathaniel Berg tallied seven block assists.
During set one the momentum remained on the Mastodons side as they held the lead at 4-3 before exploding on an 8-1 run to lead 12-4. IPFW's Duckworth paced the `Dons in the first frame and recorded one of his markers before Grand Canyon called its second time out of the set at 20-11. IPFW's pressure never subsided as it led by as many as 12 and won the first frame 30-19.
Set two was much closer from the beginning and even included a match-high four lead changes. Shank paced IPFW in the second stanza as the `Dons stretched out the lead to a comfortable margin at 20-15. Despite being down the Antelopes of GCU didn't lose hope as they sprinted back on a 6-1 run to only trail by one at 27-26. The match remained close at 29-29 before consecutive attack errors made it 30-30. Next Kook's kill was matched by GCU's Tyson Crandell, 31-31. Shank's kill gave the `Dons the go-ahead point before the Antelopes' Mikel Meador had two kills in a row. An IPFW attack error handed the `Lopes game two 34-32.
The `Dons fell down early in the third with the first two kills coming from GCU's Taylor Griffin. IPFW then had an attack error to push the score to 0-3. IPFW trailed until midway through the set Mader found Meyer for the set's first tie 16-16. Then flustered, GCU had consecutive errors giving the `Dons a 4-0 run and forcing an Antelope timeout. Despite being down the `Lopes kept kicking forcing four more ties and a IPFW timeout at 29-28. IPFW rallied and junior Corey Stewart found Shank for the set's final kill as the `Dons got their second set 30-28.
Set four began and ended with kills from Shank but it was Stewart who shouldered IPFW's offense as he collected 11 assists in the fourth frame. IPFW opened at 12-8 lead forcing an Antelope timeout. GCU closed the lead to just one at 13-12, but IPFW fought back with three kills from Duckworth, two from Kook and an ace from Peterson before Grand Canyon called its last timeout at 20-15. GCU made one final push closing in on the lead at 26-24, but Meyer and Shank all but ended the match with two straight kills, 28-24. A GCU attack error and Shank's final strike ended the match in four 30-26.
Meador led the `Lopes with 17 kills while Kyle Norton picked up eight digs for GCU.
The `Dons will host the `Lopes again tomorrow night for a Valentine's Day duel. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 PM.
~Dons~
