Lopes host 4 in Antelope Gym

Friday, March 6

Phoenix, Ariz.

3:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Vanguard

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Photo by: Mathew McGraw

3/5/2020 3:24:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Match Notes

GCU hosts Vanguard, North Greenville, Menlo and UC Irvine

By: Cassidy Mace


Grand Canyon Lopes (12-5, 4-2 MPSF)	vs	Vanguard Lions (10-5, 6-2 GSAC)	North Greenville Crusaders (8-7, 4-4 CC)	Menlo Oaks (16-0, 8-0 GSAC)	UC Irvine Anteaterss (8-7, 0-2 Big West)
		Friday, Mar. 6 3:30 p.m.	Friday, Mar. 6 7 p.m.	Saturday, Mar. 7 Noon	Saturday, Mar. 7 Noon
Game Notes		Live Video Live Stats	Live Video Live Stats	Live Video Live Stats	Live Video Live Stats

No. 10 Grand Canyon men's volleyball returns home to host four opponents on Friday and Saturday at Antelope Gymnasium. The Lopes bring in Vanguard, North Greenville and Menlo, as well as No. 7 UC Irvine.

All GCU matches will be streamed live on GCUtv.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

RANKED: The Lopes earned their highest national ranking ever on Feb. 24, coming in at No 8 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 15 Poll. GCU broke into the rankings for the first time this season on Feb.17 at No. 13 and currently sit at No. 10 in the poll.
PUTTING UP STATS: GCU ranks in the top 10 nationally in six statistical categories. The Lopes are sixth in kills per set (12.95) and team attacks per set (27.90). They also rank seventh in assists per set (12.05), eighth in aces per set (1.76) and hitting percentage (.306), and ninth in winning percentage (.706).
MPSF Honors: Freshman outside hitter Camden Gianni earned his first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Week honor last Monday, when he was named the MPSF Offensive Player of the Week. Gianni led the Lopes in kill against No. 8 UCLA with 17 and No. 6 Pepperdine with 19. The Carlsbad, California, native joins GCU sophomores Christian Janke and Hugo Fischer as MPSF Offensive Player of the Week recipients this season.

SCOUTING

Vanguard started their season with a sweep over Saint Katherine at home, leading to a 5-1 record to start the season. The Lions are now 10-5 with a 6-2 record in the Golden State Athletic Conference. Sophomore outside hitter Kyle Anema leads the Lions with 289 kills this season, averaging 5.35 per set. Freshman middle blocker Cody Watts leads the team in blocks with 57, averaging 1.06 per set.

North Greenville kicked off the season with a win at Urbana in four sets. The Crusaders then traveled to Ohio State, where they were swept by the Buckeyes. North Greenville comes into the match on a four-match win streak, after previously being on a five-match losing streak. Junior outside hitter Brandon Baker leads the Crusaders with 122 kills, averaging 2.35 per set. Senior middle blocker Ben Hamsho leads the team in blocks per set at 1.08.

Menlo started the season with a four-set win over UC Santa Cruz at home. The Oaks went 4-0 at the Oak Invitational at home. Menlo is 16-0 with sophomore outside hitter Edin Ibrahimovic leading the Oaks with 282 kills, averaging 5.1 kills per set. Junior middle blocker Ryan Hansell is first on the team with 46 blocks this season.

No. 7 UC Irvine picked up a big home sweep of No. 10 Princeton to start the season. The Anteaters took two more ranked wins shortly after, defeating No. 11 Loyola Chicago and No. 9 Stanford in four sets apiece. Junior outside hitter Joel Schneidmiller leads the Anteaters with 212 kills, averaging 3.59 per set to rank 24th nationally. Senior middle blocker Scott Stadick is first in the nation in blocks per set at 2.10.

LAST TIME OUT