North Greenville split the day with a 3-0 loss to the #7 Anteaters of UC Irvine followed by a huge 3-2 win over the #10 Antelopes of Grand Canyon University. After dropping the opening two sets against GCU, the Crusaders played lights out to force a fifth set and ultimately complete the upset.

Match One - 3-0 UCI

The Crusaders surprised the Anteaters early on, sticking right with them for much of the opening set. NGU led 10-9, but UCI was able to get going with a 9-4 run to take an 18-14 lead. After the Crusaders fought back to draw within two, UC Irvine put the set on ice with a 6-2 run, and would eventually take the opening set 25-20.

Momentum continued to be on the side of the Anteaters to begin set two. NGU began with a 4-1 deficit, but was able to stay within striking distance and fight back to cut the deficit to one with a score of 10-9. However, the Anteaters would go on to dominate the remainder of the set, posting a 15-4 run to win the second set 25-13.

Set three began on a similar note, with UC Irvine able to jump out to a 9-3 lead. Once again, the Crusaders stayed in the set, recording a 6-2 run to draw within two points. Trailing 15-10, North Greenville continued to fight, but couldn't grab the momentum to lessen the deficit. NGU would simply run out of time as the Anteaters would take the third set 25-19 to win the match.

Match Two - 3-2 NGU

North Greenville struggled in the opening set, posting a negative attack percentage. The Antelopes opened up the set with a 9-4 run. NGU would respond by scoring three of the next four points including a kill by Jackson Gilbert. That would be followed by a strong 10-2 run by Grand Canyon to end any doubts in the set. GCU would go on to take set one 25-12.

NGU put together a more competitive start to set two. The Crusaders trailed just 9-7, but a 5-1 run by the Antelopes proved to be costly. GCU would continue to build up their lead. North Greenville would put together a small run late, but Grand Canyon went on to take the second set with a score of 25-18.

The Crusaders were able to hang with the Antelopes to begin set three. After six ties, Grand Canyon was able to put together a 5-1 run to pull away slightly. However, NGU would come back to draw within one point. Trailing 14-11, the Crusaders stormed back with a 6-2 run to take a one point lead. Late in the set, North Greenville would score three in a row including a huge block by Brandon Baker and Jackson Gilbert. With NGU leading 24-23, Gilbert would come up with the kill to give the Crusaders a set win with a score of 25-23.

North Greenville would continue to carry the momentum into the fourth set, building up an 8-3 lead early on. The Crusaders continued to hold on to the lead, but the Antelopes would put together a 6-2 run to cut the deficit to three. Three straight points by NGU including a block by Luis Kannee and Ben Hamsho built the lead back up to six. Kills by Ben Hamsho and Cade McGee ended the set to give the Crusaders a 25-18 set win to force a fifth set.

After Grand Canyon took the opening three points, North Greenville responded with three of its own including a kill by Hamo and a solo block by Jake Boldog. The Antelopes scored four out of five to lead 8-5, but NGU came right back to score five in row including two assisted blocks by Luis Kannee and Brandon Baker to lead 10-8 and force a GCU timeout. After a sixth straight point by North Greenville, Grand Canyon finally scored a point to end the drought. Two additional points by the Antelopes tied the score at 11-11, forcing the Crusaders to take a timeout. GCU scored a point out of the timeout, but the Crusaders responded with a kill by Gilbert to tie things up yet again. Gilbert would then come up with a service ace to give North Greenville the lead back. Grand Canyon was able to tie the score again with a point, but a kill by Baker followed by a kill by Gilbert gave the Crusaders a 15-13 set win as well as a huge match victory.

North Greenville will wrap up the road trip tomorrow against the Spirit of Ottawa University in Phoenix, Arizona.