PROVO, Utah — The No. 6 BYU men's volleyball team hosts No. 2 Grand Canyon University for its first conference matchup on Friday, February 16 and Saturday, February 17 in the Smith Fieldhouse. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. MST, with the broadcast streaming live on BYUtv and byutv.org.
After two sweeps against Long Island, the Cougars are ranked No. 6 in the AVCA Coaches Poll, their highest rank so far in 2024. The last time BYU was ranked No. 6 was on April 17, 2023 which was also the highest rank the Cougars ever achieved last season. BYU was only ranked No. 6 for two weeks from April 10-17 in 2023. Overall, BYU has been ranked in the top-10 since February 6, 2023 for a total of 19 consecutive weeks.
COUGARS (9-3)
BYU posted multiple career highs against LIU last week. On Thursday, senior Kupono Browne tied his season-high of four service aces as he recorded the four out of BYU’s six total. Freshman middle blocker Caleb Sorenson made his first career appearance, recording his first kill and sealing the contest for the Cougars with a match-point service ace in the third set. On Saturday, middle blocker Ethan Gant made his first-career start and recorded a career-high three kills to go along with a career-high and match-high four blocks. Jon Stanley also posted his first-ever solo block in Saturday’s match.
Junior middle blocker Teon Taylor currently has 23 solo blocks throughout his career, putting himself at No. 10 all-time in the BYU men’s volleyball rally scoring era for career solo blocks. Taylor launched himself into the record books after registering two solo blocks against LIU. The ninth most is Carlos Moreno with 25.
LOPES (9-0)
GCU is the only remaining undefeated team out of all NCAA D1 men’s volleyball teams, with a 9-0 record. They have yet to see a five-set contest this year, compiling six sweeps and three four-set wins. The Lopes have faced three ranked opponents: #17 CSUN, #15 UCSB and #18 UC San Diego. GCU’s matchup against BYU will be its first top-10 matchup of the year.
GCU is led by senior opposite Camden Gianni who has 99 kills, 21 aces, 42 digs and a .348 hitting percentage. He has the fourth-highest average in aces, with an average of .700 per set. Gianni competed with Team USA and the NORCECA Pan American Cup and the NORCECA Pan American Final Six last summer, earning a gold medal with Team USA at the Pan American Final Six.
The Lopes have the second-highest team hitting percentage in the country, posting a .376 clip.
COUGARS VS. LOPES
BYU and GCU will face each other for the 15th time on Friday, dating back to its first matchup in 2018. The Cougars hold an 8-6 edge all-time, with a 5-2 home record. The Lopes currently hold onto a four-match win streak against the Cougars.
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