The 2020 OUAZ men's volleyball season begins on Wednesday when the Spirit travel across the valley to face Park Gilbert in the first-ever meeting with the first-year Buccaneers. First serve from the San Tan Charter School in Gilbert, Ariz., is scheduled for 5 p.m. OUAZ will then open Golden State Athletic Conference play on Friday against rival Arizona Christian in a 7 p.m. match at the Dream City School.
 
Wednesday's match at Park Gilbert will be broadcast via the Buccaneers streaming portal. Friday's match will be carried live on the OUAZ Digital Network with ACU producing the stream. Live stats will also be available for both matches. Links for all live features are available at OUAZSpirit.com/live.
 
Coming off a 2019 campaign that saw OUAZ finish 14-8 and win the NCCAA national title, the Spirit return nine players that saw action last season. That includes James Yahner and his team-best 148 kills and .249 hitting. Yahner also led the team with 20 service aces
 
Andrew de'Leon returns to run the offense after averaging 8.54 assists per set last season. He ran the OUAZ offense that averaged 11.17 kills per set while hitting .213 a season ago.
 
Joaquin Santa Cruz is back after being named to the GSAC All-Conference team in 2019. He averaged 2.95 digs per set with 16 service aces and 35 assists as the team's primary libero.
 
OUAZ received three points in the preseason edition of the NAIA Men's Volleyball Coaches' Top 10 Poll that was released on January 8. This is the Spirit's first year of eligibility for the poll and both NAIA and GSAC postseason tournaments.
 
The Spirit were picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll of GSAC coaches.