'Lopes pick up 5th straight with 3-1 triumph over NDNU

Saturday, October 31

W 3-1

Grand Canyon

Notre Dame de Namur

'Lopes pick up 5th straight with 3-1 triumph over NDNU

10/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

The wins just keep on comin' for the Grand Canyon University women's volleyball team.

With a 3-1 victory over Notre Dame de Namur at Antelope Gym Saturday, the Antelopes picked up their fifth straight triumph, fourth straight in the Pacific West Conference and eighth win in the last nine tries.

At 17-8, GCU equals its win total from 2006 and is one win away from matching the 2000 season success mark of 18. With four matches left, it is only three wins away from reaching 20 for the first time since 1999 (25-7).

GCU won by set scores of 25-12, 25-20, 20-25, 25-21 on Saturday to improve to 6-6 in the PacWest. The 'Lopes have won eight of their last 10 and are the hottest team in the conference other than first-place Hawai'i Hilo, which clinched the title and automatic NCAA berth earlier this week.

On Saturday, freshman Erica Ehlo (Spokane, Wash./Lewis and Clark) had 15 kills, 10 digs and three block assists.

Seniors Whitney Estes (No. 12, pictured, Gardnerville, Nev./Douglas) and Dana Edington (Peoria, Ariz./Centennial) had eight kills each. Estes added four block assists.

Freshman setter Kristen Preach (Phoenix, Ariz./Xavier Prep) had 42 assists, six kills and six digs. Sophomore libero Laurann Durbin (Phoenix, Ariz./Sunnyslope) had 24 digs, three assists and two service aces to go with one kill.

Freshman Shelby Taylor (Phoenix, Ariz./Christian) had seven kills and three block assists. Freshman Katie Peterson (No. 18, pictured, Glendale, Ariz./Mountain Ridge) had five kills and six block assists. Freshman defensive specialist Erin Compton (Billings, Mont./West) had 12 digs.
(Photos by Tim Koors)