Conference play begins at USC

The Grand Canyon men's volleyball team opens Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play this week at No. 14 USC on Thursday and at Concordia-Irvine on Saturday.

There will be storylines for both matches that carry over from the 2018 campaign. USC (6-4) was the only MPSF team that the Lopes swept in a series last season. The Trojans, however, look like a different squad this year, cracking into the AVCA Coaches Poll after defeating No. 4 UC Irvine two weeks ago.

As for Concordia-Irvine (4-8), the Lopes went 1-2 against the Eagles last season and the last loss still resonates. GCU fell at Concordia-Irvine during the first round of the MPSF Tournament quarterfinals in straight sets.

GCU carries a 7-5 non-conference record into the weekend and will look to build on its win against Charleston on Saturday. After falling to No. 4 UC Irvine in straight sets, GCU responded by sweeping Charleston in its "most complete match of the season," according to head coach Matt Werle.

The offense still will run through freshman outside hitter Christian Janke, who has kept his season-long double-digit kill streak alive. Janke is one of three players in the nation to record 10 or more kills in every match and is the only one to do so in at least 10 matches.

Though the Lopes saw their blocking streak fall by failing to out-block their past three opponents, their 2.49 blocks per set still tops the MPSF. While junior middle blocker Caleb Blazer continues to be sidelined with a lower body injury, senior middle blocker Alex Shmelev has taken up the blocking mantle. Shmelev is second in the conference in blocks per set at 1.14 and trails only Blazer.

This weekend will feature a rare occurrence -- a non-ranked opponent. Of GCU's final 16 matches, only two will be against a team that is outside the top 15 (Concordia-Irvine).

Upon completion of the two-match road trip, the Lopes will return home for a top-five matchup against No. 5 Pepperdine on Feb. 15.

SCOUTING:

USC | Thursday, Feb. 7., 8 p.m. | Los Angeles, Calif.

The 14^th- ranked Trojans broke into the coaches poll after defeating UC Irvine in four sets and are the only team to take a set from No. 1 Long Beach State. Ryan Moss has been all over the court for USC, leading the team in kills, digs and blocks. Moss has earned one MPSF Offensive Player of the Week honor. Jack Wyett is third in the conference in kills per set. The success of Wyett and Moss partially can be attributed to setter Chris Hall, who is third in the MPSF in assists per set. This will be the fifth meeting between the Lopes and the Trojans with the series tied at 2-2.

Concordia-Irvine | Saturday, Feb. 9., 8 p.m. | Irvine, Calif.

The Eagles' four wins this season have all come at home. Addison Enriques, the twin of Lopes libero Avery Enriques, has been a bright spot for CUI. The sophomore leads the MPSF in digs per set at 2.37. Concordia-Irvine has had a challenging start to the season as half of its opponents were ranked. This will be the 14^th meeting between the Eagles and the Lopes with GCU leading the series 7-6.

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Players Mentioned

Caleb Blazer

Avery Enriques

Christian Janke

Alex Shmelev

Grand Canyon University Athletics