Fort Collins, Colorado – In a closely contested battle, the Sugar Bears fought hard but ultimately fell to Grand Canyon University (GCU) in a five-set thriller (25-22, 20-25, 25-23, 17-25, 12-15) on September 6th.
 
The Sugar Bears came out strong in the first set, setting the pace with powerful serves and dynamic play at the net. Helping the Sugar Bears secure a 25-22 win to start the match.
 
However, GCU responded in the second set with a strong comeback, capitalizing on a series of unforced errors from the Sugar Bears. Despite a valiant effort from the Sugar Bears, GCU took control and claimed the set 25-20, evening the match at one set apiece.
 
The third set saw the Sugar Bears regroup and take an early lead. The team displayed resilience, holding off GCU's rallies to win the set 25-23, putting the Sugar Bears ahead 2-1.
 
But GCU refused to back down. In the fourth set, they upped the intensity and narrowly edged out the Sugar Bears in a hard-fought 17-25 finish, sending the match into a decisive fifth set.
 
In the final set, both teams left it all on the court, trading points in an exhilarating back-and-forth battle. However, GCU managed to pull away in the final moments, clinching the set 12-15 and securing the 3-2 victory.
 
The Sugar Bears will look to bounce back in their next match against host team, Colorado State, which is set for September 7^th, at 2 p.m.