Two athletes. Two journeys.

One mission.
 
Whether it's roller in Madrid or volleyball courts across the United States, Grand Canyon University Roller player Brydon Frisk and Grand Canyon University Women's Club Volleyball player Rachel Piluski have not just found success in their sports, but purpose. With Frisk rededicating his life to faith after years of international play, and Piluski stepping into unexpected leadership as a sophomore, both embody what it means to grow. Their stories are testaments to resilience and mentorship make them prime honorees for the July GCU Club Sports Student-Athletes of the Month.

Brydon Frisk: Roller
 
Langley, British Columbia? Hometown. Madrid, Spain? Enjoyed every second living there for nine months.
 
But for Lopes' Roller player Brydon Frisk, all roads lead to GCU.
 
There's been several hurdles along the way over the last three years that have tested that theory, but each time, the senior from Canada learns to appreciate the campus a little more.
 
"I've never had a regret about pausing my international career to come here," said Frisk. "I've been able reconnect and rebuild my relationship with Jesus here. He never left me, and I think I steered away from the path he wanted me to take a little bit. Not anymore. I even got a tattoo on my left arm, which was the date I rededicated my life to Jesus."
 
Frisk's road has been more well-traveled than most 22-year-olds, and he's eternally grateful to the sport he's been obsessed with since the age of 2 for that journey. That obsession was cultivated by his hero.
 
"I watched my father play roller hockey and wore skates as long as I can remember," said Frisk. "I watched him coach my older sister on various teams – including Team British Columbia in State Wars (now one of the largest roller tournaments featuring top teams from both the United States and Canada. He also wound up coaching me when it came my time and instilled a very high work ethic in me. I don't know anyone that works as hard as him, but he was still there for me and my three sisters."
 
By the time Langley Christian Secondary School rolled around for Frisk's high school days, his suitcase and roller equipment bag were getting plenty of use.
 
"I played for Pure Maple (a travelling tournament team from Canada), and even played on the Canadian National team at the 2019 Pan American Games in Colombia," said Frisk. "I then joined Las Rozas in Madrid, Spain at age 18. My time there had both highs and lows, from helping win their first-ever trophy to traveling throughout the country each weekend for games to underperforming as an athlete. My homestay family treated me like their own and kept me grounded."
 
That's where the road – as well as a bad bone bruise late that season – began to redirect his life's path.
 
"I was out six weeks and started thinking about what happens when roller hockey isn't here anymore," Frisk said. "You never know what's going to happen tomorrow, so I decided going back to school was a good idea. I wanted to exercise my mind instead of just my body."
 
Frisk was still eyeing going back overseas to play in France, but a chance meeting three summers ago while playing with some ex-Las Rozas teammates at a tournament in California changed all that.
 
"I was playing in the 24U division against (Lopes' Head Coach) Aydin Schwetz," said Frisk. "Aydin (then the Lopes' team captain) approached me afterwards to ask what my future plans were, and I said probably France. He coaxed me into coming to GCU, and I enrolled in the fall of '22. Aydin made the campus sound too good to be true, but… new dorms, five pools, Esports Arena, all the gyms. It's paradise, honestly."
 
That fall was the start of the GCU Roller program, but they never looked like rookies in reaching the national tournament all three years - even winning it all a year ago. Frisk has been a major component of that success – despite having family business force him to head back home for the fall semester each of the last two years and rejoin the team each January.
 
"It's been strange coming in halfway through the season, since there's a lot of people I didn't know and different dynamics," said Frisk. "It wound up all for the better because we just gelled so well. They're my brothers because we built a culture. They're not just teammates. They're family."
 
Despite the missed semesters, Frisk's work ethic ("Thanks, Dad") has helped him catch up, and staying in Phoenix this summer for classes will put him on track to graduate next April with a degree in Sports Management. Frisk wants to eventually own his own team, and he and Schwetz are already trying to grow and brand the sport locally by forming the Phoenix Fleas squad. For now, Frisk wants to use his wealth of experiences on various fronts to inspire others.
 
"A big part of leading is seeing someone who might be overwhelmed by something they haven't been through before and helping them through that," said Frisk. "Everything that's happened happens for a reason, and rededicating my life has kept me at peace with my decisions. God's path is intentional, and I just trust that path and try to bring light to any room I'm in."
 
Rachel Piluski: Women's Club Volleyball
 
Most head coaches look to their seniors to be the voices of their respective programs. For GCU Women's Club Volleyball player Rachel Piluski, who just wrapped up her sophomore year, her voice is being heard ahead of schedule.
 
A Psychology student with a minor in Biblical Studies, Piluski's play on the court – in tandem with her earned trust from GCU Head Coach Kris Naber – have made her an easy selection to be a student leader next year. Raised outside of Chicago in Cary, Illinois, Piluski naturally followed in the footsteps of both her college-athlete parents, with her mom later becoming a personal trainer.
 
"My mom was always a big supporter of mine," said Piluski. "I started working out with her when I was around 10. She signed me up for volleyball and made sure to be at every game. Even when our car slid off the road, she made it there on time."
 
With this support, as well as the exposure to campus from a GCU Discover trip, Piluski was chose to continue her volleyball career at GCU.
 
"It sounds cliché, but I just loved the energy of the student body during my Discover trip," Piluski said. "It was important that I chose an environment that would push me to grow academically, spiritually, and athletically."
 
Naber has also been a key supporter to Piluski's club volleyball experience.
 
"Rachel's skills have landed her on the top team for the past two years," Naber said. "She is a versatile player - playing either pin, back row, or front row - whatever the team has asked of her. She finished out last season on a high."
 
That high was a masterful team performance at the National Club Volleyball Federation National Championships, where Piluski's .278 hitting percentage helped lead the top D1AAA Bronze squad to seven wins in eight matches.
 
Naber's belief in Piluski didn't just fuel her performance, it shaped her mindset.
 
"'Coach Kris' treats her athletes like they are her own kids, pushing us to be the best," said Piluski. "I wouldn't have been able to succeed without her extra push, and I think most of my teammates feel the same way about her."
 
The team has embraced a balance of lighthearted and competitive nature under the guidance of Naber's leadership.
 
"One of my favorite memories from this past season was the night before the tournament in California when we convinced our coaches to do a TikTok trend," said Piluski. "It set the tone for the tournament."
 
Piluski plans to keep this energy alive during her time as a student leader in the coming years.
 
"I honestly love to be around people and consider myself an extrovert," said Piluski. "Last year, I had the chance to be a small group leader at Kamp Love, a GCU-led church camp for college students, and really enjoyed it. I want lead our team in the same way."
 
With this leadership position, Piluski looks forward to being a liaison between the coaching staff and athletes.
 
"I think open communication is important for a team to maintain great culture and relationships," said Piluski. "To balance it with competitive play, you need to constantly work on team comradery. It helps us stay connected."
 
Comradery. Connection. Two qualities of Piluski's style that make her a perfect fit to define the direction of the team.
 
"As the year progressed, I saw Rachel begin to take on more of a leadership role," said Naber. "She represents our program well, knows our expectations, and is not afraid to speak up when needed."