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
NCAA tourney notes: Loose Lopes take big stage
4/30/2024 11:30:00 AM | Men's Volleyball, Paul Coro
GCU, Ohio State expect high-level, high-volume quarterfinal match
LONG BEACH, Calif. – The difference between Grand Canyon men's volleyball entering its first NCAA tournament in awe last year in Virgina and rolling into the Walter Pyramid ready to jaw was apparent when the Lopes first took to the court for a Monday night practice.
In preparation for a Tuesday night NCAA quarterfinal against Ohio State, the Lopes were early for the tournament's allotted practice window and could not touch any of the balls in a courtside rack until it began.
So they started scrimmaging without a ball, playing out a series of pretend rallies, complete with jumps, swings, sets and digs. The celebrations and call debates on the "points" showed a far looser temperament to the Lopes, who return most of their lineup from last season's NCAA tournament loss to Long Beach State for this program-best season.
The comfortable, confident Lopes (25-4) often plays out into in-match talking, which is something its 7:30 p.m. opponent Ohio State (22-8) also does. The match will stream on NCAA.com.
"If we're both playing the best volleyball, it's going to be a dogfight," GCU head coach Matt Werle said. "There's no question about it. They play with a big chip on their shoulders. They run their mouths a little bit. We do as well."
Ohio State has not seen GCU since early last season, but many of the same participants will be the major players again with Ohio State hoping to avenge that five-set loss in Virgina in January 2023.
"They're a super-fun team," Ohio State 6-foot-6 senior middle blocker Justin Howard said of the Lopes. "They really thrive off the environment It's the NCAA tournament, so they're going to be jacked to be here. They're also jacked to be at every single game."
"It's going to be strength on strength," Buckeyes head coach Kevin Burch said. "They're a great serving team, obviously. but I also think we're a great passing team and we've proven that throughout the year and through these guys' careers. They're certainly going to be put up a big test.
"It's going to be a slugfest. These teams don't throw a lot of jabs, both of us. We throw a lot of haymakers, so it's going to be a fun to watch and a fun one to be part of."
Ohio State 6-foot-4 senior Jacob Pasteur knows offense. He was the 2023 Karch Kiraly Award winner as the nation's top outside hitter and Werle consider him to be a potential future Olympian.
But while he brings his own prowess, he recognizes what the Buckeyes face against a GCU offense that has posted the fourth-best hitting percentage (.347) in the nation with four players earning All-America honors (opposite Camden Gianni, setter Nicholas Slight and middle blocker Cameron Thorne on first team and outside hitter Jackson Hickman on second team).
"It's very balanced," Pasteur said of GCU's offense. "It keeps teams on their toes. You've got to be honest with yourself and be patient. They've got a lot of talent over there, and they like to put balls away."
Slight, who ranks third nationally with 10.5 assists per set, has heard the NCAA tournament setting called "the setter's worst nightmare." Long Beach State's Walter Pyramid is shaped just as the name suggests with a vast backdrop on the 18-story building.
"Just trying to track the ball and get my feet under the ball are going to be a big thing," said Slight, whose high school years were in Torrey Pines, California. "Try to depth-perception it."
Slight has received praise for his leadership growth and adaptability to the players around, particularly with Thorne and Rico Wardlow as less stereotypical, more dynamic middle blockers.
"They're so undersized and athletic compared to the standard middle nowadays you see in men's volleyball," Slight said. "That makes their drive better. They have those intangibles that are amazing to set. I love running a fast offense, and they're up super fast and are fun to set."
With his All-America play, the Lopes are in a position to be a national championship contender and stands three victories away from that goal.
"That's only something everyone would dream of being within college athletics," Gianni said. "it would mean the world."
In preparation for a Tuesday night NCAA quarterfinal against Ohio State, the Lopes were early for the tournament's allotted practice window and could not touch any of the balls in a courtside rack until it began.
So they started scrimmaging without a ball, playing out a series of pretend rallies, complete with jumps, swings, sets and digs. The celebrations and call debates on the "points" showed a far looser temperament to the Lopes, who return most of their lineup from last season's NCAA tournament loss to Long Beach State for this program-best season.The comfortable, confident Lopes (25-4) often plays out into in-match talking, which is something its 7:30 p.m. opponent Ohio State (22-8) also does. The match will stream on NCAA.com.
"If we're both playing the best volleyball, it's going to be a dogfight," GCU head coach Matt Werle said. "There's no question about it. They play with a big chip on their shoulders. They run their mouths a little bit. We do as well."
Ohio State has not seen GCU since early last season, but many of the same participants will be the major players again with Ohio State hoping to avenge that five-set loss in Virgina in January 2023.
"They're a super-fun team," Ohio State 6-foot-6 senior middle blocker Justin Howard said of the Lopes. "They really thrive off the environment It's the NCAA tournament, so they're going to be jacked to be here. They're also jacked to be at every single game."
Game recognizes game
GCU is coming off serving 10 aces against No. 1 UCLA to defeat the Bruins in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship match. Ohio State is considered one of the best passing teams in the nation. It's on."It's going to be strength on strength," Buckeyes head coach Kevin Burch said. "They're a great serving team, obviously. but I also think we're a great passing team and we've proven that throughout the year and through these guys' careers. They're certainly going to be put up a big test.
"It's going to be a slugfest. These teams don't throw a lot of jabs, both of us. We throw a lot of haymakers, so it's going to be a fun to watch and a fun one to be part of."
Pasteur on Lopes
Ohio State 6-foot-4 senior Jacob Pasteur knows offense. He was the 2023 Karch Kiraly Award winner as the nation's top outside hitter and Werle consider him to be a potential future Olympian. But while he brings his own prowess, he recognizes what the Buckeyes face against a GCU offense that has posted the fourth-best hitting percentage (.347) in the nation with four players earning All-America honors (opposite Camden Gianni, setter Nicholas Slight and middle blocker Cameron Thorne on first team and outside hitter Jackson Hickman on second team).
"It's very balanced," Pasteur said of GCU's offense. "It keeps teams on their toes. You've got to be honest with yourself and be patient. They've got a lot of talent over there, and they like to put balls away."
Setting in Pyramid setting
Slight, who ranks third nationally with 10.5 assists per set, has heard the NCAA tournament setting called "the setter's worst nightmare." Long Beach State's Walter Pyramid is shaped just as the name suggests with a vast backdrop on the 18-story building."Just trying to track the ball and get my feet under the ball are going to be a big thing," said Slight, whose high school years were in Torrey Pines, California. "Try to depth-perception it."
Slight has received praise for his leadership growth and adaptability to the players around, particularly with Thorne and Rico Wardlow as less stereotypical, more dynamic middle blockers.
"They're so undersized and athletic compared to the standard middle nowadays you see in men's volleyball," Slight said. "That makes their drive better. They have those intangibles that are amazing to set. I love running a fast offense, and they're up super fast and are fun to set."
Dream the dream
Gianni has been a part of the GCU program build for six years with a unique path that began with his first year diverted by a cardiac arrest at practice and ensuing heart surgery. With a medical redshirt year and the NCAA's COVID-19 waiver year, Gianni was in position to return for this season that took GCU to the No. 1 ranking and a program-best win total (25).With his All-America play, the Lopes are in a position to be a national championship contender and stands three victories away from that goal.
"That's only something everyone would dream of being within college athletics," Gianni said. "it would mean the world."
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