Home slate opens with Lindenwood

Friday, January 12

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Lindenwood

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Photo by: Zach Campbell

1/11/2024 6:12:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

No. 6 Lopes return to Phoenix after 3-0 start on road

By: Jerob Moon


No. 6 Grand Canyon Lopes (3-0)	vs.	Lindenwood Lions (0-0)
		Friday/Sunday, Jan. 12/14 6 p.m./Noon Global Credit Union Arena
Match Notes		Live Stats Live Video

The Grand Canyon men's volleyball team will open the 10-match home schedule this weekend with matches against Lindenwood on Friday and Sunday. The sixth-ranked Lopes make their 2024 debut at Global Credit Union Arena after three wins at the Asics Invitational last week.

Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.

3 THINGS TO KNOW

MVP SLIGHT: Junior setter Nicholas Slight had a great start to the season, recording 94 assists, 22 digs and four blocks in the three GCU wins. Slight earned Most Valuable Player honors of the Asics Invitational and was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Defensive Player of the Week. One week into the season, Slight ranks in the top 15 nationally with 9.4 assists per set and 2.2 digs per set.
MOVING UP: The Lopes began the season ranked seventh in the American Volleyball Coaches Association national poll, their highest preseason ranking in program history. With the three wins over No. 17 CSU Northridge, UC San Diego and No. 15 UC Santa Barbara, the Lopes moved up a spot to No. 6. The 3-0 GCU start is part of an MPSF unbeaten start with six conference teams combining for a 12-0 start.
ROAD WARRIORS: The two matches against the Lions will be the first and only home matches of January. The Lopes hit the road for the next six matches. GCU will travel to the East Coast for three matches against Merrimack, Harvard and Daemen before opening MPSF play at BYU. The Lopes will return to Phoenix against USC on Feb. 23 and 24.

SCOUTING

Lindenwood was picked sixth in the preseason Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association coaches poll and returns four all-conference players from last year. Graduate AJ Lewis is back after leading the Lions with 309 points and 39 service aces. Sophomore Ian Schuller returns for his sophomore year after leading the team with 260 kills. Head coach Joe Kosciw is in his seventh year with the program holding a 52-83 record.