Lopes host Arizona Christian


No. 5 Grand Canyon Lopes (10-0)	vs.	Arizona Christian Firestorm (1-0)
		Friday-Saturday, Feb. 3-4 6 p.m./4 p.m. GCU Arena/Antelope Gymnasium
Match Notes		Live Stats Live Video

The No. 5 Grand Canyon men's volleyball team is back in action Friday when they take on Arizona Christian at 6 p.m. in GCU Arena. The Lopes are looking to extend their program best 10-0 start with a first-ever meeting against the Firestorm.

Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.

3 THINGS TO KNOW

HICKMAN,SLIGHT HONORED: The Lopes were well represented after a historic week with outside hitter Jackson Hickman and setter Nicholas Slight earning national honors. Hickman was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation's Offensive Player of the Week and American Volleyball Coaches Association's National Player of the Week after leading the Lopes with 48 kills and 61 points in four wins over Lees-McRae and No. 7 UC Irvine. Slight collected 101 assists in the four wins and earned National Setter of the Week honors from Off the Block.
NUMBER FIVE: The Lopes made more program history on Monday when they jumped four spots to No. 5 in the AVCA Division I-II Coaches Poll, the highest ranking in program history. GCU has been ranked as high as No. 6 twice, but two wins over the seventh-ranked Anteaters catapulted GCU up into the top five. GCU is the first team in the nation to 10 wins and one of five unbeaten teams in the country.
MPSF PLAY LOOMING: A win on Friday would ensure the Lopes would be the only undefeated team entering MPSF play next week. The Lopes will open conference play on the road taking on No. 12 USC on Feb. 15 and 17. The following week, GCU will travel to Malibu, California, for an anticipated matchup against No. 6 Pepperdine, the reigning MPSF Tournament champs on Feb. 22 and 24.

SCOUTING

Arizona Christian is just getting its season underway with just one match under its belt compared to GCU's 10. The Firestorm defeated Park 3-0 on Feb. 1 in its season opener. ACU hit .362 as a team in the win, including an impressive .650 hitting mark in the third set. Senior opposite Chris Beck led the team with 13 kills on 22 swings while senior outside hitter Cade McGee had four service aces. ACU features a hometown roster with 11 Arizona natives and four seniors in its starting lineup. GCU boasts five Arizona natives.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Lopes will open MPSF play Feb. 15 and 17 at USC.

For more GCU men's volleyball news, notes and numbers, click here to view the match notes.

3 THINGS TO KNOW

SCOUTING

WHAT'S NEXT?

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jackson Hickman

Nicholas Slight

Grand Canyon University Athletics