Grand Canyon is building its reputation in the Western Athletic Conference with its basketball program.
But the fall teams are holding their own.
The combined men’s and women’s soccer teams and the women’s volleyball team has a combined 29-5-1 record (84.3%), leading all Division I schools in the nation in winning percentage among sponsored sports in those three sports.
There are 188 Division schools in the country that sponsor those three sports in the fall.
GCU’s record leads Lipscomb (28-5-1, 83.8%), Duke (27-6-1, 80.9%), UCLA (26-6-1, 80.3%), Pittsburgh (28-7, 80%).
Grand Canyon’s men’s soccer team, which reached the NCAA Tournament last year, is ranked 17th nationally. It is 8-1 overall and 3-0 in the WAC. The Lopes have wins over No. 22 Oregon State, St. Mary’s College and Cal Poly. They play host to Incarnate Word on Friday and UT Rio Grande Valley on Oct. 10.
The women’s soccer team is ranked ninth in the Pacific Region poll. The Lopes are 10-2-1 and 4-1 in the WAC. They are 67th nationally in RPI, the highest rating of Arizona’s three teams.
They host New Mexico State on Saturday at GCU Stadium.
The women’s volleyball team is 11-2 overall and 3-0 in the WAC. They are 5-0 at home, where they have yet to lose a set. They have a top-100 RPI and are at Chicago State on Saturday.
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.
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