IRVINE, Calif. – Making their first appearance in the MPSF Tournament, Concordia (16-14, 5-7 MPSF) got home court advantage after earning the fourth seed, to set up a match with fifth seed Grand Canyon (18-11, 4-8 MPSF). The teams split the series record earlier when CUI swept GCU at home and the Lopes avenged the loss in four in Arizona. But in the match with the season on the line, Concordia was victorious, defeating Grand Canyon in a three-set sweep by scores of 25-20, 25-21, 25-23.
 
The Eagles led in mainly every statistical category, having a 12-4 blocking advantage, serving seven aces compared to none for the Lopes, and outhit them .318-.238.
 
Setter Chandler Gibb had an all-around great performance as he picked up 35 assists, five digs, and two aces to go along with a career-high seven blocks. Jonathan Predney had 10 kills and hit .333 while Raymond Barsemian put down eight kills and shined at the back line with a career-high four aces. Hunter Howell hit .727 with eight kills on 11 errorless swings and matched Gibb's seven blocks to defend the net. Josiah Bergt performed well at the opposite position, where he was productive offensively with six kills and hit .750.
 
Momentum was high to start off the match with Predney collecting the first point of the match with a kill and serving an ace to get ahead early 3-1. Barsemian took a crosscourt swing that deflected off a GCU defender into the crowd and Gibb swiped the ball off the blocker to spark a 6-2 Concordia run and a 10-6 lead. Predney and Darcy Taig each put down kills and the Lopes hit long to give Concordia a five-point advantage at 21-16. GCU would come within three, but Predney terminated a swing and Grand Canyon hit long to end the set.
 
Concordia gunned out early with a 4-2 lead after three GCU errors and a Howell kill. Teams traded points until the Lopes went on a 4-0 run to get ahead 13-10. The Eagles responded well with a 4-0 run after Howell put down a kill with no blockers up, placing Barsemian back to the line where he served back-to-back aces and forced a free ball which Howell yet again put away. Gibb put on a 6-0 service run with tough serves that earned him two aces and allowed Taylor Falduti to read his defenders well, collecting consecutive blocks. Grand Canyon would fight off two set points but ended their run with an error to give CUI the 2-0 lead in the match.
 
Howell continued his hot-streak with two kills and double-block with Gibb to get the Eagles ahead 7-6. Bergt had two consecutive kills on the right side to give CUI a 12-10 lead. A trio of points by Gibb and Howell emerged a 4-0 run from Concordia to put them up 17-13. Falduti and Bergt contributed to bring the lead to five at 22-17, but GCU stormed within two. Barsemian had two of Concordia's next points on kill to set them up match point and put the crowd to their feet. Despite the Lopes fighting off two match points, Concordia finished the match with a block from Howell and Gibb.
 
Concordia advances to the MPSF Semifinals in Provo, Utah where it will face the second seed UCLA on Thursday, April 19^th. The winner of that will advance to the Championship match on Saturday, April 21^st for a fight with either top seed BYU or USC for the conference title and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.