Grand Canyon University Athletics
Price Named MIVA Coach of the Year; Three Players Named All-MIVA
4/20/2012 2:51:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
Jeremy Price was named MIVA Coach of the Year and three players earned All-MIVA honors, announced today by the league office.
Junior libero Trent Bruns and sophomore outside hitter Ben Ponnet were named to the first team. Freshman middle hitter Ryan Mather was selected to the second team.
“I’m really proud to have three guys on the All-MIVA team,” said Price. “This is the first time we’ve had multiple selections. That’s a testament to the continued emergence of our program.”
It is the third straight year Bruns has been selected all-conference. He was a second team choice as a freshman and was a first-team selection last year.
This year, Bruns ranked third in the league and ninth in the nation in digs (2.46).
Ponnet became the first GCU player with 400 kills (410) in a season. He ranks fourth in the MIVA (3.66) and 13th in the country in kills per set. He is also eighth in the league in service aces (.25) and fourth in points per set (4.21). On Feb. 20, Ponnet became the first GCU player to earn Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Mather finished his rookie regular-season third in the conference and 15th in the nation in blocks per set (1.14). He has 95 total blocks, five away from being only the second person in school history to have 100 blocks (Chris Lockwood had 108 in 2010) in a season. He was the MIVA’s first Defensive Player of the Week this year, earning the award Jan. 17.
“To have them in three different classes speaks well about the direction we’re going,” added Price. “It’s always nice to see your players get recognized.”
And the coach, too.
Price is in his second season at GCU. His club was picked to finish last in the seven-team MIVA preseason poll, but the Antelopes set new marks for wins in a season (15) and in the MIVA (5) to take fourth place and earn the final homecourt spot in the upcoming MIVA tournament.
GCU will host fifth-seeded Ball State 6 p.m. Saturday at GCU Arena.
Grand Canyon takes a 15-16 record into Saturday’s match.
Along with hosting a first-round tournament match for the first time, GCU defeated its first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation opponent (UC San Diego) and won on the road in the MIVA for the first time (IPFW). GCU went 8-24 last season and had won only one MIVA
contest in its first two seasons in the league.
“I’m humbled to receive coach of the year in a conference like the MIVA that has so many outstanding coaches that have been successful for a long period of time,” said Price. “I have to give thanks and credit to the players and the coaching staff. (Assistant coaches Ryan Woodworth and Matt Werle) are doing a great job training players, on scouting reports and in-match adjustments.
“I’m also thankful for the opportunity to coach at a place like Grand Canyon and the investment made in athletics programs at the top with people like (CEO) Brian Mueller and (Athletics Director) Keith Baker.”
Fans unable to attend Saturday’s MIVA quarterfinal match at the arena can follow all the action with live stats and live video. Links to the live coverage are available at www.GCULopes.com.
ALL-CONFERENCE RELEASE
“I’m really proud to have three guys on the All-MIVA team,” said Price. “This is the first time we’ve had multiple selections. That’s a testament to the continued emergence of our program.”
It is the third straight year Bruns has been selected all-conference. He was a second team choice as a freshman and was a first-team selection last year.
This year, Bruns ranked third in the league and ninth in the nation in digs (2.46).
Ponnet became the first GCU player with 400 kills (410) in a season. He ranks fourth in the MIVA (3.66) and 13th in the country in kills per set. He is also eighth in the league in service aces (.25) and fourth in points per set (4.21). On Feb. 20, Ponnet became the first GCU player to earn Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Mather finished his rookie regular-season third in the conference and 15th in the nation in blocks per set (1.14). He has 95 total blocks, five away from being only the second person in school history to have 100 blocks (Chris Lockwood had 108 in 2010) in a season. He was the MIVA’s first Defensive Player of the Week this year, earning the award Jan. 17.
“To have them in three different classes speaks well about the direction we’re going,” added Price. “It’s always nice to see your players get recognized.”
And the coach, too.
Price is in his second season at GCU. His club was picked to finish last in the seven-team MIVA preseason poll, but the Antelopes set new marks for wins in a season (15) and in the MIVA (5) to take fourth place and earn the final homecourt spot in the upcoming MIVA tournament.
GCU will host fifth-seeded Ball State 6 p.m. Saturday at GCU Arena.
Grand Canyon takes a 15-16 record into Saturday’s match.
Along with hosting a first-round tournament match for the first time, GCU defeated its first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation opponent (UC San Diego) and won on the road in the MIVA for the first time (IPFW). GCU went 8-24 last season and had won only one MIVA
“I’m also thankful for the opportunity to coach at a place like Grand Canyon and the investment made in athletics programs at the top with people like (CEO) Brian Mueller and (Athletics Director) Keith Baker.”
Fans unable to attend Saturday’s MIVA quarterfinal match at the arena can follow all the action with live stats and live video. Links to the live coverage are available at www.GCULopes.com.
ALL-CONFERENCE RELEASE
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