Grand Canyon University Athletics
Friday, March 9
Phoenix, AZ
6 p.m.
Grand Canyon
vs
Ball State
GCU junior libero Trent Bruns is among the nation's leaders in digs.
Preview: Ball State
3/8/2012 3:55:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
Grand Canyon returns to Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association action Friday and Saturday against Ball State at Antelope Gymnasium.
GCU (11-8, 2-0) is one-half game behind league-leader No. 7 Lewis (14-3, 4-1) and tied with defending MIVA and NCAA champion No. 9 Ohio State (13-6, 3-1). The ‘Lopes are the only team without a league loss.
“This is an important stretch with six straight MIVA matches,” said GCU coach Jeremy Price, whose club travels to IPFW (10-6, 2-2) next week and welcomes No. 15 Loyola-Chicago (10-9, 3-3) March 23-24. “There are going to be a lot of teams fighting it out to get in the top four (in the MIVA) so they can host a conference quarterfinal match. That’s one of our goals.”
Grand Canyon has never beaten Ball State (10-6, 2-3), which comes into the weekend series to wrap up a road trip that started Wednesday with a 3-0 loss at No. 12 Cal State Northridge. The Antelopes are 0-6 all-time against the Cardinals, losing twice in Muncie, Ind., last season. Five of the six matches have gone at least four sets. Two have gone five sets.
GCU is ranked in the nation’s Top 10, statistically, in six categories. The team is No. 1 in digs per set (10.17). Junior libero Trent Bruns ranks fourth (2.66). Sophomore outside hitter Ben Ponnet is No. 7 in kills per set (3.94). The team is No. 8 in assists per set (12.04). Sophomore setter Keith Smith is ninth in assists per set (10.65) and the team is 10th in kills per set (12.86).
Ball State is in the Top 10 in three categories. It is seventh in blocks per set (2.89) and digs per set (9.11). Kevin Owens is seventh in blocks per set (1.28).
The Antelopes are hoping to right things after a rough three-match losing streak on the road at Division III No. 4 Juniata, St. Francis and George Mason. It was preceded by the program’s longest winning streak (6).
“We’re slowly getting healthy as a team,” said Price. “Hopefully, we’ll get everyone back in a couple of weeks. Whoever we put out (on the court) we expect them to get the job done.”
“We match up well with Ball State, but they match up well with us, too,” Price added. “It’s going to be a tough MIVA match. There are no easy nights in our conference.”
Matches begin at 6 p.m. both nights. Fans unable to attend can follow live stats and live video at www.GCULopes.com.
GCU (11-8, 2-0) is one-half game behind league-leader No. 7 Lewis (14-3, 4-1) and tied with defending MIVA and NCAA champion No. 9 Ohio State (13-6, 3-1). The ‘Lopes are the only team without a league loss.
“This is an important stretch with six straight MIVA matches,” said GCU coach Jeremy Price, whose club travels to IPFW (10-6, 2-2) next week and welcomes No. 15 Loyola-Chicago (10-9, 3-3) March 23-24. “There are going to be a lot of teams fighting it out to get in the top four (in the MIVA) so they can host a conference quarterfinal match. That’s one of our goals.”
Grand Canyon has never beaten Ball State (10-6, 2-3), which comes into the weekend series to wrap up a road trip that started Wednesday with a 3-0 loss at No. 12 Cal State Northridge. The Antelopes are 0-6 all-time against the Cardinals, losing twice in Muncie, Ind., last season. Five of the six matches have gone at least four sets. Two have gone five sets.
GCU is ranked in the nation’s Top 10, statistically, in six categories. The team is No. 1 in digs per set (10.17). Junior libero Trent Bruns ranks fourth (2.66). Sophomore outside hitter Ben Ponnet is No. 7 in kills per set (3.94). The team is No. 8 in assists per set (12.04). Sophomore setter Keith Smith is ninth in assists per set (10.65) and the team is 10th in kills per set (12.86).
Ball State is in the Top 10 in three categories. It is seventh in blocks per set (2.89) and digs per set (9.11). Kevin Owens is seventh in blocks per set (1.28).
The Antelopes are hoping to right things after a rough three-match losing streak on the road at Division III No. 4 Juniata, St. Francis and George Mason. It was preceded by the program’s longest winning streak (6).
“We’re slowly getting healthy as a team,” said Price. “Hopefully, we’ll get everyone back in a couple of weeks. Whoever we put out (on the court) we expect them to get the job done.”
“We match up well with Ball State, but they match up well with us, too,” Price added. “It’s going to be a tough MIVA match. There are no easy nights in our conference.”
Matches begin at 6 p.m. both nights. Fans unable to attend can follow live stats and live video at www.GCULopes.com.
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