Completed Event: Men's Volleyball versus #6 BYU on March 21, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 3
M Volleyball
vs #6 BYU
L 1-3
Grand Canyon University Athletics
GCU ranked No. 9; Gianni named All-American
12/22/2021 10:51:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
Lopes earn highest preseason ranking in program history
The Grand Canyon men's volleyball team was well represented in preseason honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association and Off the Block.
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The Lopes, led by seventh-year head coach Matt Werle, are ranked No. 9 in the National Volleyball Association/AVCA Division I-II Preseason Coaches Poll, earning their highest preseason ranking in program history. The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, GCU's conference, blanketed the top 10 with UCLA at No. 2, Pepperdine at No. 3 and BYU at No. 6.
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The Lopes will play eight nonconference matches against ranked opponents, starting with the season opener against No. 14 McKendree. GCU also has matches at No. 5 Penn State, No. 8 Lewis and No. 10 UC San Diego, as well as Feb. 11-12 matches against No. 11 UC Santa Barbara at GCU Arena.
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GCU outside hitter Camden Gianni earned Preseason All-America honors from volleyball website Off the Block. The redshirt sophomore is coming off a stellar season in which he led the Lopes with 212 kills and 37 service aces. Gianni was an NVA/AVCA All-America honorable mention for the second straight season, becoming the first Lope to do so.
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The Carlsbad, California, native also had a busy summer with the U.S. NORCECA national team. Gianni competed at the NORCECA Continental Championships in August. In a four-set win over Guatemala, Gianni led Team USA with a tournament-high 25 kills.
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The Lopes open the season on Jan. 7 with a match against No. 14 McKendree at 6 p.m. in GCU Arena.
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The Lopes, led by seventh-year head coach Matt Werle, are ranked No. 9 in the National Volleyball Association/AVCA Division I-II Preseason Coaches Poll, earning their highest preseason ranking in program history. The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, GCU's conference, blanketed the top 10 with UCLA at No. 2, Pepperdine at No. 3 and BYU at No. 6.
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The Lopes will play eight nonconference matches against ranked opponents, starting with the season opener against No. 14 McKendree. GCU also has matches at No. 5 Penn State, No. 8 Lewis and No. 10 UC San Diego, as well as Feb. 11-12 matches against No. 11 UC Santa Barbara at GCU Arena.
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GCU outside hitter Camden Gianni earned Preseason All-America honors from volleyball website Off the Block. The redshirt sophomore is coming off a stellar season in which he led the Lopes with 212 kills and 37 service aces. Gianni was an NVA/AVCA All-America honorable mention for the second straight season, becoming the first Lope to do so.
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The Carlsbad, California, native also had a busy summer with the U.S. NORCECA national team. Gianni competed at the NORCECA Continental Championships in August. In a four-set win over Guatemala, Gianni led Team USA with a tournament-high 25 kills.
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The Lopes open the season on Jan. 7 with a match against No. 14 McKendree at 6 p.m. in GCU Arena.
NVA/AVCAÂ Division I-II Preseason Coaches Poll
| School (first-place votes) | Points | 2021 record | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawai'I (12) | 263 | 17-1 |
| 2 | UCLA (1) | 250 | 15-6 |
| 3 | Pepperdine (1) | 244 | 13-7 |
| 4 | Long Beach State (3) | 233 | 7-5 |
| 5 | Penn State | 190 | 22-4 |
| 6 | BYU (2) | 186 | 20-4 |
| 7 | Loyola-Chicago | 146 | 15-6 |
| 8 | Lewis | 141 | 21-3 |
| 9 | GCU | 136 | 9-11 |
| 10 | UC San Diego | 130 | 5-13 |
| 11 | UC Santa Barbara | 100 | 16-5 |
| 12 | UC Irvine | 63 | 2-14 |
| 13 | Ohio State | 51 | 9-10 |
| 14 | McKendree | 34 | 11-6 |
| 15t | Ball State | 20 | 12-8 |
| 15t | George Mason | 20 | 14-7 |
| 15t | NJIT | 20 | 13-6 |
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Players Mentioned
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