Nine seniors to be honored

PHOENIX - Grand Canyon men's volleyball program will play host to Benedictine-Mesa to kick off the final home stand of the 2018 at 5 p.m. (MST) in Antelope Gym. The Lopes (16-10) are coming off a hard fought MPSF roadtrip and look to rebound against the Redhawks (17-5). This will be a one game break from Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play before USC comes to town on Friday, April 6.

The Redhawks are ranked No. 6 in the NAIA Coaches Poll and are coming off a loss to MPSF foe, Concordia.

The match is a special one for the Lopes as they will honor nine seniors before the match. The senior class has been instrumental in shaping GCU's program and have taken it to new heights while breaking records along the way. GCU has seen its best four-year win total since it began 2009 and the seniors have helped the Lopes become a Top-15 program in the nation. This season, under direction of head coach Matt Werle, the senior heavy roster has helped GCU crack the AVCA Division I-II Preseason Coaches Poll for the first time in program history, get off to the best start in program history and stayed ranked every week.

The nine seniors being honored are as follows:

2018 SENIORS

JEROD ALLEMAN | MIDDLE BLOCKER | CHANDLER, ARIZ.

Alleman transferred to GCU from Arizona State and appeared in 14 sets for the Lopes, recording 20 kills and averaging more than a block per set. After graduating he plans to pursue a Master of Science in Business Analytics.

ZACHARY MELCHER | SETTER | CHANDLER, ARIZ.

Melcher appeared in 68 sets for GCU and has amassed 415 assists to go along with a .449 hitting percentage. The Chandler native set career highs in every category this season including his 40 assist performance at Stanford.

LUKE TURNER | OUTSIDE HITTER | WAUKESHA, WIS.

Turner appeared in 145 sets for the Lopes, recording 191 kills and setting career highs in kills, assists, aces and blocks this season. Hailing from Wisconsin, he will graduate GCU with a bachelors in sport management with a minor in communications.

SHALEV SAADA | OUTSIDE HITTER | KIBBUTZ KFAR MASARYK, ISRAEL

Saada leaves GCU ranking third all-time in kills and fifth in aces. In 309 career sets he totaled 873 kills, 67 aces and 153 blocks. The outside hitter will represent his home country this summer as he plays for the Israeli national team before pursuing a career in professional volleyball.

ASHTON KING | MIDDLE BLOCKER | NORTHRIDGE, CALIF.

King leaves GCU as the all-time total blocks leader, having recorded 410 total blocks during his four year career. The California native leads the Lopes in blocks for the second consecutive year and has been a key component on offense, totaling 561 kills with a .366 career hitting percentage.

CODY WILLIAMS | OUTSIDE HITTER | ANTHEM, ARIZ.

Williams appeared in 181 sets for the Lopes and totaled 391 kills, 164 digs and 83 blocks. The Anthem, Arizona native leads GCU in kills this season and is second on the team in aces. He plans to play professional volleyball overseas and will graduate with a bachelor of science in psychology.

SKYLAN KELLY KULANI ENGLEMAN | LIBERO | HONOLULU, HAWAII

Engleman has been a staple in the Lopes rotation at the Libero position and ranks third in GCU history in digs with 700. The Hawaiian leads the Lopes in digs and ranks fourth among all MPSF players. Upon leaving GCU he plans to return to Hawai'i to spend time with family before joining the Air Force with his brother.

PUNA KANIHO | SETTER | KAILUA, HAWAII

Kaniho has amassed the fourth most assists in GCU history, totaling 1,163. He leads the Lopes in assists this season and has set career highs in every category. The Hawaiian native was named National Player of the Month for January by Off the Block in their inaugural poll voted on by fans.

CULLEN KAHEKILI MOSHER | OUTSIDE HITTER | KANEOHE, HAWAII

Mosher has appeared in 266 career sets for the Lopes and totaled 444 kills and 55 aces. After being named Honorable Mention All-MIVA in 2017, Mosher has been one of GCU's most consistent and efficient players this season, averaging over two kills per set. He hopes to continue his volleyball career overseas after leaving GCU.

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