Grand Canyon University Athletics
GCU has first home match Sunday with Loyola-Chicago
2/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
Welcome home!
After playing the first 16 matches of its inaugural season on the road, Grand Canyon will play host to Loyola-Chicago 7 p.m. Sunday at Antelope Gymnasium.
The Antelopes (2-14) have taken two trips to California and North Carolina and have also gone to Illinois, Indiana and Tennessee. Including among the trips was a meeting with Sunday's foe, which comes in ranked No. 14 in the country.
"It's really exciting," said freshman outside hitter Mikel Meador (pictured) on the home opener. "We finally get to show everyone that can't travel with us from Arizona that they can see some college volleyball at 7 p.m. (Sunday)."
GCU snapped a losing streak last weekend with a win over Eastern Mennonite. It is hopeful to take some momentum, as well as some extra energy from not having to travel and its home fans, against the highly-ranked Ramblers, who are recent winners over then-No. 1 Penn State.
"What's better than playing at home in front of the home crowd?" said GCU head coach Chad Speer. "The last time we played (Loyola) we played well. Hopefully, we can build on that and play well (Sunday)."
Speer said he expects a big crowd, as this will be the state of Arizona's first chance to see NCAA men's volleyball. Many high school players, coaches and youth league volleyball players are expected to be in attendance, as well as a lot of GCU parents that haven't had an opportunity to see their sons play.
"I'm excited that my parents and everyone else gets to see us play," added Meador.
The Loyola match is the start of a tough four-match stretch that includes a trip to nationally-ranked UCLA Wednesday and a two-match homestand with Ball State March 7-8.
