Upcoming Event: Volleyball versus Arizona State on March 20, 2026
Volleyball
vs Arizona State
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Nathan Peters
Assistants Larson, Vorderer earn AVCA Thirty Under 30 honors
3/11/2026 7:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Coaches recognized nationally for impact with Lopes and youth volleyball
Grand Canyon assistant volleyball coaches Evan Larson and Ryan Vorderer were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association's Thirty Under 30 Award list.
The AVCA announced three groups of recipients — college, club and high school — for its 2026 Thirty Under 30 Awards. The program recognizes rising coaches across the sport who serve in roles ranging from head coach to volunteer assistant to club director.
Larson joined the Lopes staff in April 2023 and helped guide one of the most successful stretches in program history. In 2025, GCU advanced to the Mountain West Tournament and ranked 17th nationally in total blocks and 21st in blocks per set. In her first season, GCU went 23-8, won the program's first WAC championship and made its first NCAA Division I Tournament appearance. The Lopes followed with back-to-back 20-win seasons while setting Division I-era single-season records with 316 blocks and 197 service aces.
Larson also has made a significant impact in youth volleyball. She served as head coach of the 2025 USAV Open National Champion Arizona Storm Elite 18 Thunder team and was an assistant coach for the 2024 USAV Open National Champion Arizona Storm Elite 17 Thunder squad. Larson also led the 2025 Arizona Region High Performance U15 team to the International Championship while continuing to develop young athletes through club coaching, clinics for players of all ages and directing GCU volleyball camps.
Vorderer joined the staff in March 2024 and contributed to the Lopes' continued success. During the program's first Mountain West season in 2025, GCU set a Division I-era record with 515 block assists and recorded the 
second-highest total blocks season in program history. Freshman setter Bella Nunez ranked third nationally in triple-doubles while outside hitter Ana Ramirez moved into fourth place in program history for career kills.
Before arriving at GCU, Vorderer spent two seasons as an assistant coach at UTSA after beginning his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at South Florida in 2019. He previously served as a graduate assistant at Nebraska during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, helping the Huskers reach the NCAA Elite Eight in 2020 and finish as the national runner-up in 2021.
A former standout libero, Vorderer was a four-year starter at Lindenwood from 2015 to 2018. He earned All-MIVA honors, led the conference in digs per set in 2017 and 2018, and finished his career as the program's all-time digs leader. He also competed professionally in England in 2018, winning a national university championship with Essex.
Both coaches remain active in youth development through club coaching, clinics and directing GCU volleyball camps.
Players Mentioned
S
/ Volleyball"It would be really cool to beat my mom's record." - Aubrey Goodere | Volleyball
Tuesday, January 06
Bella Nunez | Women's Volleyball
Monday, November 10
Kendra Potts Post Match Press Conference | GCU vs NAU 9.7.25
Monday, September 08
“You don’t know what it’s like.” | The Lope-a-Palooza Experience
Saturday, August 30