The Grand Canyon University Men's Club Volleyball team wrapped up their impressive inaugural season in the Southern California Collegiate Volleyball League with a 9th-place finish at the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation National Championships in Kansas City, Missouri. The Lopes competed in the Men's Division IAAA bracket and ended with an 8-1 record in the tournament.
Grand Canyon swept their first three pool-play matchups of the tournament weekend, beating the Colorado School of Mines "B", the University of Georgia "A", and the University of Massachusetts.
From there, the Lopes were able to continue rolling in bracket play, sweeping Ball State University and the University of Southern California "B" team before finally losing a match to Auburn University, dropping GCU to the Gold Consolation bracket.
With a renewed sense of competition, the Lopes got back to their winning ways, beating archrival Arizona State University and Cal-State Northridge in straight sets, and narrowly edging the University of Vermont in three sets to run the consolation bracket ladder.
GCU freshman setter Gabriel Biggers was named to the NCVF CCVC All-Tournament Second Team while sophomore outside hitter Owen Robles was an honorable mention.
The Lopes end the season with an overall record of 23-4 and a division title in the SCCVL DIII Central division.
"It has been an honor to coach this team throughout the season," said GCU Head Coach Bri Niziolek. "Every week these guys came into practice working hard and it really paid off in the end. They always played with heart and proudly represented GCU."
