SURPRISE, Ariz. – The OUAZ men's volleyball team is set to begin its second season of competition on Saturday when they head across the valley to face Grand Canyon in Antelope Gymnasium at 4 p.m.
 
The live of the match will be available on the GCU YouTube page. Live stats will also be available. Fans can find links for all live features by visiting OUAZSpirit.com/live.
 
OUAZ enters the opener after going 15-10 in the program's inaugural season. This year's team welcomes back 10 players from that squad, including James Yahner who lead the Spirit with 271 kills last season. Quentin Campbell is also back this season after totaling 173 kills a year ago. Andrew de'Leon returns after his season with a team-leading 829 assists.

"I'm looking forward to getting year two started," said OUAZ Head Coach Kyle Steele. "We return almost every starter from a team that was very competitive last year and added some much needed depth and athleticism with our recruiting class. With a mix of eight transfers and four true freshmen in this new class, we add a wealth of experience as well. The new guys are buying into the culture the first class set before them of hard work and no short cuts. We are enjoying the process right now and look forward to seeing what kind of mix takes shape on the court in the next few weeks. The coaching staff is excited to see the progress this team has made in the off season and the bright future ahead of us."
 
Along with starting the season on Saturday, the Spirit learned they will be the No. 1 seed at the NCCAA Men's Volleyball National Invitational held later this month at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill.
 
The season opener comes against a team ranked No. 15 in this week's AVCA NCAA Division I Poll. Grand Canyon is 1-2 on the season with all three matches coming against nationally ranked NCAA DI teams. Saturday's match will the be first at home this season for the Lopes.
 
In the lone meeting last season, GCU swept the Spirit at Antelope Gymnasium.
 
The 2019 season will see the Spirit play in the Golden State Athletic Conference where they will play each of the other five school at home and on the road. This is the first-ever season for men's volleyball in the conference and it will include four full GSAC members and two single sport members. This is also the first season the NAIA will hold a Men's Volleyball National Championship. As first-year members of the NAIA, OUAZ is not eligible for the GSAC or NAIA postseason tournaments.
 
Looking ahead, the Spirit are home to face Arizona Christian on January 16 at 7 p.m. from Willow Canyon High School.