Busy slate features top-15 foes

Grand Canyon beach volleyball returns to action Thursday at GCU Beach Volleyball Stadium. The No. 17 Lopes (10-2) host No. 6 Hawaii (10-4) at 5 p.m. before traveling to Irvine, Calif., on Sunday to face No. 14 Stanford (4-7), Concordia (4-4) and Irvine Valley (5-4).

GCU looks to extend a nine-match winning streak after recording four wins on the road and five at home in the month of March.

The Lopes kick off a full weekend of competition at home against the No. 6 team in the country on Thursday. Hawaii is 10-4 on the season with wins over No. 14 Stanford, No. 20 TCU, No. 8 Florida International and No. 12 California. GCU has yet to earn a win over the Rainbow Warriors in seven previous tries.

GCU is 2-1 against ranked teams this season but Hawaii will be its highest-ranked opponent. The Lopes lost 3-2 to No. 15 Loyola Marymount on Feb. 22 but defeated No. 17 Tulane 3-2 on March 1 and No. 16 Georgia State 3-2 on March 2.

Sunday's competition begins with a neutral-site match against Concordia at 10 a.m. The Eagles are 4-4 on the season with two matches scheduled for Thursday. The Lopes met Concordia once previously for a 5-0 win in 2015.

The Lopes continue play at noon against the host school, Irvine Valley. The Lasers are 5-4 this season with four matches scheduled prior to Sunday's competition. The match marks the first time GCU and Irvine Valley will compete.

GCU closes out the weekend with another ranked opponent, No. 14 Stanford. The Cardinal are 4-7 this season with a win over then-No. 14 Arizona on March 3. Sunday marks the first beach volleyball competition between Stanford and GCU.

For live match updates, follow the Lopes on Twitter and Instagram at @GCU_Beach.

Grand Canyon University Athletics

Related News

Next Event

Related Videos