Top-ranked GCU takes on No. 8 Stanford

Friday, March 1

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Stanford

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Photo by: Nate Cochran

2/29/2024 1:47:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

No. 1 Lopes welcome No. 8 Cardinal to Global Credit Union Arena

By: Jerob Moon


No. 1 Grand Canyon Lopes (13-0, 4-0 MPSF)	vs.	No. 8 Stanford Cardinal (8-6, 1-1 MPSF)
		Friday/Sunday, March 1/3 6 p.m./Noon Global Credit Union Arena
Match Notes		Live Stats Live Video

The top ranked Grand Canyon men's volleyball team will be back in action for another top-10 matchup against No. 8 Stanford at Global Credit Union Arena.

The 6 p.m. Friday and noon Sunday matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.

3 THINGS TO KNOW

TOP-RANKED: The Lopes made history Monday, becoming the first GCU team to be ranked since the university jumped to the Division I level in 2013. The Lopes leapfrogged Long Beach State for the top spot in the American Volleyball Coaches Association/National Volleyball Association coaches poll after earning 13 first-place votes.
GIANNI, SLIGHT LEAD LOPES: Senior opposite Camden Gianni and junior setter Nicholas Slight both ranked in the top three nationally in offensive statistics. Gianni ranks second with 0.65 aces per set. Slight ranks second with 10.72 assists per set.
HOP TO HAWAII: After facing the Cardinal, the Lopes will take a break from conference play and travel to Honolulu for three matches at the Outrigger Volleyball Invitational. The Lopes will face UC Irvine, host Hawaii and Lewis from March 7-10.

SCOUTING

Stanford snapped a six-match losing streak, all of which came against ranked opponents, with a win at No. 11 Pepperdine for its first conference win of the season. The Cardinal are led offensively by fifth-year outside hitter Will Rottman and sophomore opposite Moses Wagner, who have combined for 33% of the team's kills. Rottman's 3.7 kills per set leads the Mountain Pacfic Sports Federation while setter Nathan Lietzke ranks fourth in the conference with 9.3 assists per set.