There is a special kind of electricity in the air when Welcome Week hits the Valley, and this year, the energy is centered squarely on the court at Global Credit Union Arena. If you have been waiting to catch the Lopes in action, this Friday, September 4, is the night to be there.
According to [GCU Athletics](https://gculopes.com/news/2026/9/3/volleyball-stage-set-for-lope-a-palooza-climax-of-welcome-week), the Grand Canyon University volleyball team is set to host Louisiana Monroe at 7 p.m. for their first home match of the season. It is shaping up to be a massive night, with expectations of a capacity crowd exceeding 7,000 fans—most of whom will be the spirited GCU student Havocs who make this venue one of the most intimidating places for visiting teams to play.
What makes this Friday particularly special is that the match serves as the precursor to Lope-A-Palooza. As noted by the team's official site, this major pep rally is the grand finale of the university’s Welcome Week festivities. It is the kind of tradition that defines the start of the academic year in Phoenix, blending high-stakes collegiate athletics with the community spirit that GCU is known for.
Coming off a 1-2 run at the Texas A&M Invitational, the Lopes are looking to build on some serious momentum. The team recently secured a clean 3-0 sweep against Arkansas State, a performance highlighted by Starr Williams, who logged 20 kills. That effort currently ranks as the second-most kills in a three-set match in the program's Division I history.
Head coach Kendra Potts, now in her third season, is leading a squad that blends returning talent with fresh faces. With 11 returners and nine newcomers, the team is looking to capitalize on the home-court advantage that saw them set an attendance record of 25,780 fans throughout the 2025 season.
Beyond Friday’s opener, the GCU Invitational will keep the action rolling at the arena, with San Francisco and Temple also visiting to round out the tournament. If you are planning to head out, make sure to get there early to soak in the atmosphere. It is the perfect way to welcome the fall season in the Valley.
