Ohio
Ohio State men’s volleyball swept by Grand Canyon in NCAA Tournament, ends 2024 season
Ohio State men’s volleyball came into the NCAA Tournament quarterfinal with history on its side against Grand Canyon University, having beaten the Antelopes in 16 of their 19 previous meetings.
History did not matter Tuesday night in Long Beach, California. No. 3 Grand Canyon beat No. 6 Ohio State in three sets (25-23, 25-20, 25-21) to end the Buckeyes’ 2024 season.
After Grand Canyon took the first two sets, which included 16 ties, Ohio State tried to regain momentum with its season in the balance. The Buckeyes took two separate two-point leads, including a three-point run that included kills by Shane Wetzel and Jacob Pasteur.
But an 8-4 run turned the tide back toward the Antelopes, which secured the sweep with a four-point third-set win.
Wetzel led Ohio State with 12 kills, but also had five errors. Pasteur, the former first-team All-American and MIVA Player of the Year, posted a .103 hit percentage with 11 kills and eight errors.
The Buckeyes never held a lead larger than two points against the Antelopes.
Camden Gianni led Grand Canyon with 12 kills
Grand Canyon holds a two-game win streak against Ohio State after beating the Buckeyes in five sets in the third game of the 2023 season.
Neither Ohio State nor Grand Canyon took control early in a first set that included 10 ties and no lead larger than three points. The Antelopes took the two-point win in the first set by securing three of the final five points including a set-ending kill by outside hitter Jackson Hickman.
Ohio State played catch up for the entire second set. The Buckeyes never held a lead despite six ties. Grand Canyon found its groove late, ending the second set with a 7-3 run to earn the five-point victory.
Ohio State had two three-set losses in 2024 to No. 4 UCLA March 10 and to Purdue Fort Wayne Match 16.
Ohio State entered the NCAA Tournament after beating Lindenwood for the program’s 19th MIVA Tournament win. It was the Buckeyes’ 10th time they had won back-to-back tournament titles.
The Buckeyes have appeared in 24 NCAA Tournaments, but have won 17 of its 42 tournament games. Ohio State has three national championships in 2011, 2016 and 2017.
cgay@dispatch.com