Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Nathan Peters
Werle wins AVCA Coach of the Year
4/30/2024 9:00:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
GCU leader becomes 1st to win top player, coach awards
Grand Canyon men's volleyball head coach Matt Werle won American Volleyball Coaches Association Coach of the Year for the Lopes' record-breaking season.
Werle is the first former AVCA Player of the Year (Division I or Division III) to also receive the AVCA Coach of the Year accolade (D-I or D-III), underscoring his impact in the sport. Werle was the AVCA D-III Player of the &ear for Juniata in 2007. During his time there, he led the Eagles to three D-III national championships as the starting setter.
The Lopes have once again demonstrated their strength under the leadership of Werle with four AVCA All-Americans, matching the national high and marking the first time in program history that any Lope was named to the first team (Camden Gianni, Nicholas Slight and Cameron Thorne). In Werle's ninth year as head coach, the program added a record for wins in a single season for the second consecutive year, posting a 25-4 record entering the NCAA tournament. The Lopes boast the nation's second-best winning percentage (.862), solidifying their status as a national power.
This season marked a historic moment for GCU as it secured its second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance by winning in its first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship title match appearance. In thrilling five-set fashion, the Lopes defeated defending national champion UCLA, marking the program's second win over a national No. 1 team in four years, following its triumph over No. 1 BYU in 2021.
Werle's leadership has been pivotal to the team's success and also earned hs first MPSF Coach of the Year honor. With a coaching record of 153-92 at GCU, Werle's journey began as a graduate assistant in 2012. The Lopes winningest coach in men's volleyball history led the team to their first-ever No. 1 ranking earlier this season.
The Lopes' season is further highlighted by the recognition of five players on All-MPSF teams for the first time in program history. Gianni and Slight made the first team while Thorne and Jackson Hickman were named to the second team and Rico Wardlow received honorable mention, a testament to the team's depth.
The AVCA Coach of the Year-led Lopes take on Ohio State on Tuesday night in an NCAA tournament quarterfinal at Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California.
Werle is the first former AVCA Player of the Year (Division I or Division III) to also receive the AVCA Coach of the Year accolade (D-I or D-III), underscoring his impact in the sport. Werle was the AVCA D-III Player of the &ear for Juniata in 2007. During his time there, he led the Eagles to three D-III national championships as the starting setter.The Lopes have once again demonstrated their strength under the leadership of Werle with four AVCA All-Americans, matching the national high and marking the first time in program history that any Lope was named to the first team (Camden Gianni, Nicholas Slight and Cameron Thorne). In Werle's ninth year as head coach, the program added a record for wins in a single season for the second consecutive year, posting a 25-4 record entering the NCAA tournament. The Lopes boast the nation's second-best winning percentage (.862), solidifying their status as a national power.
This season marked a historic moment for GCU as it secured its second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance by winning in its first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship title match appearance. In thrilling five-set fashion, the Lopes defeated defending national champion UCLA, marking the program's second win over a national No. 1 team in four years, following its triumph over No. 1 BYU in 2021.
Werle's leadership has been pivotal to the team's success and also earned hs first MPSF Coach of the Year honor. With a coaching record of 153-92 at GCU, Werle's journey began as a graduate assistant in 2012. The Lopes winningest coach in men's volleyball history led the team to their first-ever No. 1 ranking earlier this season.
The Lopes' season is further highlighted by the recognition of five players on All-MPSF teams for the first time in program history. Gianni and Slight made the first team while Thorne and Jackson Hickman were named to the second team and Rico Wardlow received honorable mention, a testament to the team's depth.
The AVCA Coach of the Year-led Lopes take on Ohio State on Tuesday night in an NCAA tournament quarterfinal at Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California.
Players Mentioned
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