THE AGENDA
The OUAZ men's volleyball team returns to action on Friday when they open Golden State Athletic Conference action with a home match against Hope International at 7 p.m. at Willow Canyon High School. Saturday's originally scheduled match has been cancelled at HIU's request.
 
The match will be streamed live on the NAIA Network and the OUAZ Game Central portal. The NAIA Network is available on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku devices by searching NAIA. Links for all live coverage is available at OUAZSpirit.com/live.
 
ABOUT THE SPIRIT
OUAZ enters the match at 5-1 on the season and coming off winning the championship at the NCCAA National Tournament last week in Palos Heights, Illinois. They are riding a five-match winning streak in which they haven't dropped a set.
 
On the season, OUAZ is hitting .280 to rank second in the GSAC and they are third in the league by averaging 11.3 kills per set. The Spirit are second in the conference with 2.2 service aces per set and they lead the way at 9.8 digs per set. They also record 2.1 blocks per set to rank third in the conference.
 
Jacob Vander Beek leads the Spirit with 47 kills and is second in the GSAC at 3.62 kills per set. After getting 13 kills in the win over Greenville to win their pool, he came back with 13 kills in the championship match against Campbellsville. Vander Beek is hitting .330 with five service aces in 13 sets played.
 
James Yahner adds 2.60 kills per set to rank fifth in the GSAC. He also recorded 13 kills against Campbellsville and 10 aces are tops in the conference. Yahner has tallied 29 digs and 11 blocks as well this season.
 
Andrew de'Leon runs the OUAZ offense to an average of 8.64 assists per set. He has also contributed eight kills, 19 digs, and seven blocks.
 
Joaquin Santa Cruz is the GSAC leader in digs at 3.00 per set with his 51 total in 17 sets played. He has twice been in double figures in digs this season while adding six aces.
 
ABOUT HOPE INTERNATIONAL
Hope International will make the trip to Surprise with a 2-1 overall record and 1-0 in GSAC play. The Royals defeated UC Merced in five sets last Friday in the first-ever GSAC men's volleyball match. Nicolas Bilinski averages 2.8 kills per set to lead a HIU offense that records 11.2 kills per set as a team.
 
The two teams split four matches last season. OUAZ earned wins on a neutral court and at home while dropping two matches in Fullerton. Both earned a 3-0 win and a 3-2 win.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Next week the Spirit will travel across the valley to face No. 2 Benedictine Mesa in a non-conference match on February 7 at 7 p.m. from Heap Gymnasium.