Grand Canyon University Athletics
Werle announces signing of four
11/15/2019 12:37:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
Men's volleyball signs four for 2021
Grand Canyon men's volleyball announced the signing of four new recruits on Thursday. The Lopes, led by head coach Matt Werle, introduced four new faces for the 2021 roster.
"We are so excited to have these four guys on board for our bright future," Werle said. "Each one of them have the skill and character that we look for in our recruits. Each of them play with a chip on their shoulder and we love that."
Nolan Flexen | Outside Hitter | Rio Rancho, N.M.
Flexen joins the Lopes from Rio Rancho, N.M., where he played three years of volleyball for the Albuquerque Homeschool Sports Association. The 6'8" outside hitter started all three seasons of his high school career, and was named team captain in 2016, 2017 and 2018. He is a three-time letter-winner and helped lead his team to two ACSL Championships in 2017 and 2018. He chose GCU because it is close to home, the Christian atmosphere and the coaching staff. He plans to major in finance and economics.
"Nolan has the potential to be one of the best attackers our program has even seen," Werle said. "He is a relatively new to the sport, but what his athleticism and passion bring, he will be a fast learner. Nolan is going to be one of those players that 'wows' the fans."
Cooper Herndon | Libero | Dallas, Texas
Herndon comes to the Lopes having played seven years of volleyball prior to signing with GCU, both on club teams and at the Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas. While at Jesuit, the 6'1" libero was named a two-time co-captain in both 2018 and 2019 as a four-year starter. He was named to the All-Star Team in both 2018 and 2019 and was named his league's Most Valuable Player. As a club athlete, he competed for Excel 16U and 17U, where he was named co-captain. Herndon chose GCU because of its coaching staff and campus culture and plans to major in engineering.
"I have now been able to coach Cooper in two of our summer camps," said Werle. "He has a nice combination of a 'pretty' platform and is definitely not afraid of hard driven attacks. He has a personality that will demand more of himself and others. He strives for perfection and that will go a long way in his role."
Nicholas Slight | Setter | Storm Lake, Iowa
Slight brings three years of experience to the Lopes, having played a total of 183 sets at Torrey Pines high school in San Diego, Calif. The 6'3" setter averaged 6.8 assists per set in his high school career and accumulated 1,253 total assists, 419 digs, 269 kills and 56 aces. He started all three seasons of his high school career, being named team captain all three seasons of play. He was awarded multiple honors including first team All-CIF, first team All-Avocado West twice and was named the All-Avocado West Player of the Year. He chose GCU for the coaching staff and men's volleyball team and plans to major in sports psychology.
"I was fortunate enough to work with Nic this past summer and I immediately knew he was a guy I wanted to recruit," said Werle. "He has that chip on his shoulder and plays with a sense of confidence that we look for in a setter. Nic is a little undersized, but his athleticism makes up for it. He will be one of the better jumpers in our gym."
Tanner Swindall | Middle Blocker | San Diego, Calif.
Swindall joins the Lopes from San Diego, Calif., where he played for four years at Poway High School. The 6'7" middle blocker earned several accolades in his time at Poway, being named to the All-CIF first team for 2018-19 as well as the Palomar first team the same year. He was also named his team's Most Valuable Player for the 2018-19 season. He plans to major in sports management while at GCU.
"Tanner is going to be very successful with his style of play," said Werle. "He sees the block extremely well as an attacker and has a good arm. He may be a little undersized, but he makes up for it with his vision. Tanner reminds me very much of one of our most successful middles to play at GCU, Ashton King. Tanner's future is bright."
"All of these guys bring a fun-loving, yet a 'yes, coach' mentality that fits well with our style," said Werle. "They are selfless and great young men. I am thrilled and honored that these athletes chose GCU!"
The Lopes open their 2020 season on Jan. 9 at the Rainbow Warrior Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. For updates and additional information follow GCU on Twitter and Instagram at @GCU_MVolleyball.
"We are so excited to have these four guys on board for our bright future," Werle said. "Each one of them have the skill and character that we look for in our recruits. Each of them play with a chip on their shoulder and we love that."
Nolan Flexen | Outside Hitter | Rio Rancho, N.M.
Flexen joins the Lopes from Rio Rancho, N.M., where he played three years of volleyball for the Albuquerque Homeschool Sports Association. The 6'8" outside hitter started all three seasons of his high school career, and was named team captain in 2016, 2017 and 2018. He is a three-time letter-winner and helped lead his team to two ACSL Championships in 2017 and 2018. He chose GCU because it is close to home, the Christian atmosphere and the coaching staff. He plans to major in finance and economics.
"Nolan has the potential to be one of the best attackers our program has even seen," Werle said. "He is a relatively new to the sport, but what his athleticism and passion bring, he will be a fast learner. Nolan is going to be one of those players that 'wows' the fans."
Cooper Herndon | Libero | Dallas, Texas
Herndon comes to the Lopes having played seven years of volleyball prior to signing with GCU, both on club teams and at the Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas. While at Jesuit, the 6'1" libero was named a two-time co-captain in both 2018 and 2019 as a four-year starter. He was named to the All-Star Team in both 2018 and 2019 and was named his league's Most Valuable Player. As a club athlete, he competed for Excel 16U and 17U, where he was named co-captain. Herndon chose GCU because of its coaching staff and campus culture and plans to major in engineering.
"I have now been able to coach Cooper in two of our summer camps," said Werle. "He has a nice combination of a 'pretty' platform and is definitely not afraid of hard driven attacks. He has a personality that will demand more of himself and others. He strives for perfection and that will go a long way in his role."
Nicholas Slight | Setter | Storm Lake, Iowa
Slight brings three years of experience to the Lopes, having played a total of 183 sets at Torrey Pines high school in San Diego, Calif. The 6'3" setter averaged 6.8 assists per set in his high school career and accumulated 1,253 total assists, 419 digs, 269 kills and 56 aces. He started all three seasons of his high school career, being named team captain all three seasons of play. He was awarded multiple honors including first team All-CIF, first team All-Avocado West twice and was named the All-Avocado West Player of the Year. He chose GCU for the coaching staff and men's volleyball team and plans to major in sports psychology.
"I was fortunate enough to work with Nic this past summer and I immediately knew he was a guy I wanted to recruit," said Werle. "He has that chip on his shoulder and plays with a sense of confidence that we look for in a setter. Nic is a little undersized, but his athleticism makes up for it. He will be one of the better jumpers in our gym."
Tanner Swindall | Middle Blocker | San Diego, Calif.
Swindall joins the Lopes from San Diego, Calif., where he played for four years at Poway High School. The 6'7" middle blocker earned several accolades in his time at Poway, being named to the All-CIF first team for 2018-19 as well as the Palomar first team the same year. He was also named his team's Most Valuable Player for the 2018-19 season. He plans to major in sports management while at GCU.
"Tanner is going to be very successful with his style of play," said Werle. "He sees the block extremely well as an attacker and has a good arm. He may be a little undersized, but he makes up for it with his vision. Tanner reminds me very much of one of our most successful middles to play at GCU, Ashton King. Tanner's future is bright."
"All of these guys bring a fun-loving, yet a 'yes, coach' mentality that fits well with our style," said Werle. "They are selfless and great young men. I am thrilled and honored that these athletes chose GCU!"
The Lopes open their 2020 season on Jan. 9 at the Rainbow Warrior Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. For updates and additional information follow GCU on Twitter and Instagram at @GCU_MVolleyball.
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