Grand Canyon University Athletics
Antelopes finish season at No. 10 UCSD
4/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
The inaugural Grand Canyon University men's volleyball season concludes Saturday.
In fitting fashion, the Lopes take on No. 10 UC San Diego.
The Tritons are the Lopes' fifth opponent among the current AVCA nationally-ranked programs and the second highest behind only No. 9 UCLA.
"After seeing some of the bigger teams -- UCLA, (No. 15) Ball State -- we have a better understanding of how to play against the bigger teams," said junior Tyson Crandell.
For the first season, GCU has elected to play some of the nation's top programs rather than taking on some lesser foes to build a better win-loss record. Along with playing, NCAA Division I-II ranked teams UC San Diego, UCLA, Ball State, No. 12 Lewis and No. 16 Loyola-Chicago, the Lopes took on IPFW when it was nationally-ranked and has played top-ranked Division III and NAIA clubs throughout the year.
It has been a year of learning.
"It's exciting to finish up against a team we hope to be at the same level as at the start of next season," said GCU assistant coach Chris Jackson (pictured). "I think when you can end playing such a good team, that we want to aspire to be like, it's exciting to end on a high note, win or lose. You can take a lot from these sort of games when you play a team that's in the top 10 in the country."
