Completed Event: Men's Volleyball versus #6 BYU on March 21, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 3
M Volleyball
vs #6 BYU
L 1-3
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Saturday, February 25
Huntingdon, PA
5 p.m.
Grand Canyon
at
Juniata
Jeremy Price
GCU To Face Three Tough Road Tests Out East
2/24/2012 2:18:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
Grand Canyon will fly across the country for three tough non-conference tests, starting Saturday against NCAA Division III’s fourth-ranked Juniata.
The Antelopes (11-5) will follow with matches Sunday and Monday against Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association teams St. Francis (PA) and George Mason.
Juniata – located in Huntingdon, Penn. -- brings more than just a tough task on the floor. It is where GCU head coach Jeremy Price coached for four seasons prior to coming to Phoenix. It is also where assistant coach Matt Werle starred for four seasons.
“Juniata was a very special place in my life and I had a great four years there and I think I can speak for Matt (Werle) that he’d say the same. It’s fun to coach against a team and program full of guys you like and respect.”
Juniata is 10-5 on the season and has won three of its last four matches, including a five-set victory over Division I George Mason.
Grand Canyon comes in with a lot of momentum, too. The Antelopes are on a school-record six-match win streak, coming off a first-ever Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association sweep and, with Ohio State’s loss to Lewis on Thursday, sole possession of first place in the MIVA.
In last weekend’s sweep of Quincy, sophomore outside hitter Ben Ponnet was a dominant force, earning the program’s first-ever MIVA Offensive Player of the Week honor. Ponnet ranks fifth in the nation in kills per set (4.09) and 20th in hitting percentage (.309).
Junior libero Trent Bruns is fourth in the nation in digs (2.67). Setter Keith Smith his fifth in assists (11.20) and 25th in blocks (1.00). Frosh middle Ryan Mather is 12th in blocks (1.21).
“This weekend is a big challenge,” said Price. “There’s tough travel, tough teams and we’re down a couple guys. We have some momentum if we can stay healthy. We’ll play as well as we can.”
Juniata’s top point producer is senior middle Ben Wolff, who averages 2.49 kills, 0.89 blocks and has a .522 attack percentage.
Price helped lead Juniata two a pair of Molten Division III National Championships in 2007 and 2009. Werle was a four-time All-American at Juniata and the 2007 AVCA Division III Player of the Year.
Juniata beat GCU twice last season in Phoenix, Price’s first year at GCU.
Saturday’s match begins at 5 p.m. Arizona time.
On Sunday, GCU takes on St. Francis (PA), located in Loretto, Penn. The Red Flash are the second place team in the EIVA, trailing only Penn State. They had won five straight matches prior to a Feb. 18 loss to Harvard and are 6-7 overall.
St. Francis is led by senior right-side hitter Alex Kane, who ranks 14th in the nation in hitting percentage (.336), 22nd in blocks (1.02) and 29th in kills per set (3.19). It also has two players among the Top 10 in blocks, led by junior middle Adam Roche (3rd – 1.54). Sophomore middle Mark Kochan is eighth (1.29).
Sunday’s match is at 2 p.m.
On Monday at 5 p.m., GCU is in Fairfax, Virginia to take on George Mason. The Patriots have played 12 matches and nine have been against teams from the MIVA. They are 3-6 against the MIVA. Though 4-8 overall, the Patriots have had eight of 12 matches go five sets and are 3-5 in those contests.
Among the national statistical leaders for GMU, Piotr Darowski is fifth in blocks (1.48) and Mark Jones is 11th in kills (3.82).
It is the first-ever meeting for GCU against both St. Francis and George Mason.
After these three non-conference matches, 10 of GCU’s final 12 contests are MIVA matches.
Fans can follow the matches on line with live stats and live video made available by the home teams. Links are available at www.GCULopes.com.
The Antelopes (11-5) will follow with matches Sunday and Monday against Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association teams St. Francis (PA) and George Mason.
Juniata – located in Huntingdon, Penn. -- brings more than just a tough task on the floor. It is where GCU head coach Jeremy Price coached for four seasons prior to coming to Phoenix. It is also where assistant coach Matt Werle starred for four seasons.
“Juniata was a very special place in my life and I had a great four years there and I think I can speak for Matt (Werle) that he’d say the same. It’s fun to coach against a team and program full of guys you like and respect.”
Juniata is 10-5 on the season and has won three of its last four matches, including a five-set victory over Division I George Mason.
Grand Canyon comes in with a lot of momentum, too. The Antelopes are on a school-record six-match win streak, coming off a first-ever Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association sweep and, with Ohio State’s loss to Lewis on Thursday, sole possession of first place in the MIVA.
In last weekend’s sweep of Quincy, sophomore outside hitter Ben Ponnet was a dominant force, earning the program’s first-ever MIVA Offensive Player of the Week honor. Ponnet ranks fifth in the nation in kills per set (4.09) and 20th in hitting percentage (.309).
Junior libero Trent Bruns is fourth in the nation in digs (2.67). Setter Keith Smith his fifth in assists (11.20) and 25th in blocks (1.00). Frosh middle Ryan Mather is 12th in blocks (1.21).
“This weekend is a big challenge,” said Price. “There’s tough travel, tough teams and we’re down a couple guys. We have some momentum if we can stay healthy. We’ll play as well as we can.”
Juniata’s top point producer is senior middle Ben Wolff, who averages 2.49 kills, 0.89 blocks and has a .522 attack percentage.
Price helped lead Juniata two a pair of Molten Division III National Championships in 2007 and 2009. Werle was a four-time All-American at Juniata and the 2007 AVCA Division III Player of the Year.
Juniata beat GCU twice last season in Phoenix, Price’s first year at GCU.
Saturday’s match begins at 5 p.m. Arizona time.
On Sunday, GCU takes on St. Francis (PA), located in Loretto, Penn. The Red Flash are the second place team in the EIVA, trailing only Penn State. They had won five straight matches prior to a Feb. 18 loss to Harvard and are 6-7 overall.
St. Francis is led by senior right-side hitter Alex Kane, who ranks 14th in the nation in hitting percentage (.336), 22nd in blocks (1.02) and 29th in kills per set (3.19). It also has two players among the Top 10 in blocks, led by junior middle Adam Roche (3rd – 1.54). Sophomore middle Mark Kochan is eighth (1.29).
Sunday’s match is at 2 p.m.
On Monday at 5 p.m., GCU is in Fairfax, Virginia to take on George Mason. The Patriots have played 12 matches and nine have been against teams from the MIVA. They are 3-6 against the MIVA. Though 4-8 overall, the Patriots have had eight of 12 matches go five sets and are 3-5 in those contests.
Among the national statistical leaders for GMU, Piotr Darowski is fifth in blocks (1.48) and Mark Jones is 11th in kills (3.82).
It is the first-ever meeting for GCU against both St. Francis and George Mason.
After these three non-conference matches, 10 of GCU’s final 12 contests are MIVA matches.
Fans can follow the matches on line with live stats and live video made available by the home teams. Links are available at www.GCULopes.com.
Kendra Potts Post Match Press Conference | GCU vs NAU 9.7.25
Monday, September 08
"Your Life Arizona" Featuring Vice President of Athletics Jamie Boggs
Friday, September 05
Kaleb Smith | Media Availability | 9.3.25
Thursday, September 04
Dusty Stromer | Media Availability | 9.3.25
Thursday, September 04