Finishing with a flurry after a horrendous start at the National Club Volleyball Federation National Championships, the Grand Canyon University Men's Club Volleyball team ran the proverbial table in the final two days of the tournament, coming from behind to knock off the champions of their own conference, UCLA, 16-25, 25-23, 15-11, to win the Bronze Bracket on the Division 1 side of the tournament. The Lopes wound up winning five of their eight matches at the annual event in Kansas City, Missouri.
 
After finishing 3^rd in the nation a year ago, the Lopes had high hopes as they headed to the "Show Me State" – despite leaving the Southern California Collegiate Volleyball League Tournament without a win two weeks ago. Once in KC, the Lopes couldn't find a rhythm on Day 1, losing in straight sets three pool-play matches against Louisiana State University, Penn State University and the University of Minnesota. Relegated to the consolation bracket, the Lopes suddenly revived themselves Friday, outlasting both the University of Ottawa (Canada) and SCCVL foe UC Santa Barbara in down-to-the-wire three-set matches in Consolation Pool Play to reach the Bronze Bracket.
 
"We liked our seeding and expected to win our pool on Day 1," said Lopes' Head Coach Eric Palmer. "When that didn't happen and we were bumped out of Gold contention, we refocused and renewed our competitive spirit to play with joy and play free. That enabled us to have fun and to be the best version of ourselves."
 
Still with no margin for error, the Lopes first avenged their earlier loss to LSU by sweeping the Tigers, 27-25, 25-22, in the quarterfinals, then made quick work of North Carolina State University, 25-21, 25-16, in the semis. Awaiting the Lopes in the Bronze title match were the defending SCCVL Champion Bruins, who had already beaten GCU in three sets in the SCCVL Crossover Tournament in late February, and - like the Lopes – took a four-match winning streak into the final. UCLA put the Lopes on their heels with a 25-16 win in the first set and had a sweep within range before GCU roared back to win Set 2, 25-23, then used a quick start in the final set to win, 15-11.
 
"We made a lineup adjustment after losing the first set that helped us regain momentum in the match," said Palmer. "In set 2, we faced two match points being down, 23-19, but we finished on a 6-0 run and the match officially shifted. Our bench energy kept us energized, and our grit and competitive spirit carried us to a triumphant victory. I am incredibly proud of our guys."
 
The strong tournament finish ensured the Lopes their second straight winning season (and 4^th in the last five years) as GCU finished with a 13-10 overall mark and 7-5 record in SCCVL play.