Lopes host No. 2 BYU, Ottawa

Friday, February 14

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

BYU

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2/13/2020 1:18:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Match Notes

GCU splits weekend at GCU Arena, Antelope Gym

By: Cassidy Mace


Grand Canyon Lopes (9-2, 2-0 MPSF)	vs	BYU Cougars (12-0, 2-0 MPSF)	Ottawa Spirit (2-1)
		Friday, Feb. 14 6 p.m. GCU Arena	Saturday, Feb. 15 4 p.m. Antelope Gym
Match Notes		Live Video Live Stats	Live Video Live Stats

The Grand Canyon men's volleyball team is back at GCU Arena to take on No. 2 BYU on Friday night and moves to Antelope Gymnasium to face Ottawa on Saturday. The Lopes are on an eight-match winning streak after taking down USC in three sets on the road Saturday.

Both matches will broadcast live on GCUTV.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

PUTTING UP STATS: GCU ranks in the top five nationally in five statistical categories. The Lopes are third in hitting percentage (.339), fourth in kills per set (13.14) and win-loss percentage (.818), and fifth in aces per set (1.91) and assists per set (12.14). Two GCU individuals rank in the top five nationally: sophomore outside hitter Christian Janke is second in aces per set at 0.69 and sophomore setter Heath Hughes is fifth in assists per set at 10.48.
STREAKS: The Lopes hold the third-longest winning steak in the NCAA with eight straight wins, behind No. 1 Hawaii (12-0) and No. 2 BYU (12-0).
SOPHOMORE STANDOUTS: Two GCU sophomores have earned Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Offensive Player of the Week honors. Janke received the award on Feb. 3 after a 2-0 home weekend, when the Lopes took down No. 9 Stanford. Opposite Hugo Fischer was named MPSF Offensive Player of the Week on Monday after an errorless game at USC.

SCOUTING

No. 2 BYU is 12-0, sharing the longest winning streak in the nation with No. 1 Hawaii. Ten of the Cougars' 12 wins are against ranked opponents. BYU is ranked in the top 10 nationally in hitting percentage (second), blocks per set (third), assists per set (fourth), kills per set (sixth) and aces per set (ninth). The Cougars are led by junior opposite Gabi Garcia Fernandez, who has recorded 180 kills, 39 services aces, 74 digs and 41 blocks this season. BYU players have won seven of 12 MPSF Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week honors this season.

In the last GCU-BYU meeting on April 4, the Lopes defeated the Cougars in five sets at home.

Ottawa kicked off the season with a five-match winning streak, taking down Park, Arizona Christian, Maranatha Baptist, Trinity Christian and Warner. The Spirit's three losses this season came against Campbellsville, Vanguard and Menlo. Ottawa also has picked up wins over Hope International and UC Merced. Freshman outside hitter Quaid King leads the Spirit this season with 132 kills, averaging 3.88 per set, along with five aces and one assist.

GCU took down Ottawa in three sets in the last meeting between the teams on Jan. 12, 2019. The Spirit is set to play Arizona Christian on Friday at home before taking on the Lopes.