2018-19 pushes program forward

Grand Canyon delivered quite an encore performance in Athletics in 2018-19, showing that the Lopes have established a long-running show in Division I.

In its second year of full Division I postseason participation, GCU earned the WAC Commissioner's Cup for a second consecutive year to claim the conference's greatest overall success. The Lopes grabbed eight WAC championships with its first Division I All-America first-team selection (swimmer Mark Nikolaev), two NCAA tournament teams (men's soccer and men's tennis) and the WAC individual men's golf champion (Jake Chanen).

GCU made the transition to Division I in 2013 and then entered full membership in resounding fashion for 2017-18. That momentum carried over to 2018-19, starting immediately with the men's soccer team posting consecutive victories against top-20 opponents in August and continuing to the baseball team's winningest D-I season that was capped by a run to the WAC championship game in May.

Success has not been contained to a sport or a season. The Lopes have shown consistency in establishing a well-rounded program, which bodes well for 2019-20 with the same head coaches that were in place when GCU became a full Division I member.

Fall

The men's soccer program has built a program and a following. GCU advanced to the NCAA tournament by shutting out three opponents in the WAC Tournament, following a season that included victories against No. 8 Air Force, No. 12 Wisconsin. No. 20 Creighton and No. 25 Seattle. Goalkeeper George Tasouris ranked second in the nation for save percentage (86.0). With increased success, GCU also enjoyed a 41.3 attendance increase as it went from ranking 18th in Division I for average fans per home game in 2017 (1,602) to No. 8 in 2018 (2,264).

The women's soccer season showed great promise with a road trip that saw the Lopes take No. 21 Washington State and Gonzaga to overtime but injuries undid the Lopes for a while. GCU closed strongly, losing only one of its final five regular-season games. Senior McKenzie Cook closed her career by landing on the All-WAC first team for the second time after being on All-WAC second team twice.

After posting winning records in three tournaments, the women's volleyball team recorded its highest season victory total since 2014. Kaira Moss made three all-tourney teams and earned All-WAC Freshmen Team honors for leading the Lopes in kills, blocks and points. GCU ranked 66th nationally for attendance to be in the top-20 percentile.

In cross country, the women's team finished four places higher than the previous year when it took 21st at the NCAA West Regional. On the men's side, senior Daniel Flores took sixth place at the WAC Championships and earned All-WAC first-team honors.

Winter

GCU became one of 29 men's basketball programs to win at least 20 games in each of the past four seasons. The Lopes reached the WAC Tournament championship game for a second consecutive season with senior power forward Michael Finke making All-WAC first team. GCU enhanced its home-environment reputation by ranking first in the nation for attendance by percentage of capacity, averaging 7,170 fans at 7,000-seat GCU Arena.

The women's basketball team lost their top six scorers from the previous season but had impactful newcomers like freshman Laura Piera leading assists and junior college transfer Da'jah Daniels, who posted a rare 20-point, 20-rebound game and made All-WAC second team. GCU was the only conference team to defeat WAC champion New Mexico State.

Mark Nikolaev completed a groundbreaking career for the swimming and diving program by becoming GCU's first student-athlete to make an All-America first team. Nikolaev did so by taking third in the 100-yard backstroke at the NCAA Championships, where he also broke a 22-year-old WAC record in the 100 freestyle. Because of the three-time WAC Male Swimmer of the Year's efforts, the Lopes won their first WAC men's team title and placed a program-best 32nd in the nation.

Spring

GCU became the only school besides BYU to sweep the men's and women's track and field titles at the WAC Indoor Championships for four consecutive years. The Lopes women also repeated as the conference outdoor team champion. Junior Niki Xydona won WAC Women's Field Outstanding Athlete.

The baseball team made a run to the WAC Tournament championship game to cap a 36-win season, the program's highest Division I victory total. GCU finished the season ranked second nationally in doubles with 148, went 4-3 against Pac-12 programs and had a Freshman All-American in pitcher Pierson Ohl. With five pro draftees, the Lopes also matched their highest number of players selected in the MLB Draft.

Softball recorded more than 30 wins for the fourth consecutive season but one was more memorable than any GCU 2018-19 victory – a 5-3 win against defending national champion and top-ranked Florida State on March 6 at GCU Softball Stadium. By hitting .396, Shea Smith became an All-WAC first-team and all-region selection.

The women's golf team enjoyed many individual distinctions despite not having a senior. Junior Carolina Sandstorm was the WAC Championship runner-up. Payton Fehringer won WAC Freshman of the Year. Sophomore Alexis Linam tied for the third-lowest round in women's golf.

Men's golf nearly pulled off a rally for the WAC team title but did come away with its second conference medalist in three years. Junior Jake Chanen won the WAC Championship with junior teammate Michael Salazar finishing one stroke behind him. Chanen advanced to the NCAA regionals as an individual qualifier.

It was a historic year for the tennis programs with a sweep of the WAC regular-season titles. The men's team lived up to its expectation as the conference favorite and gave a clutch performance to win the postseason tournament and qualify for its first NCAA tournament appearance. The women's team was a surprise champion and will return the entire roster next season.

Despite graduating nine players, the men's volleyball team had a season that included six victories against top-15 teams, including four in a row over eight nights in March. GCU ranked fifth in the nation for attendance with 1,051 fans per game at raucous Antelope Gymnasium.

Beach volleyball posted its winningest season yet by going 20-11, including victories against five ranked opponents with lineups that include mostly freshmen and sophomores. Lopes players Bella Bauman and Teagan DeFalco made the USA Volleyball U21 national team that competed at the World Championships in June in Thailand.

Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.

Grand Canyon University Athletics

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