Rallying from 2-0 deficit, GCU beats HPU

Monday, October 11

GCU

6:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Hawai'i Pacific

The GCU bench gets excited about the Antelopes rally from a 2-0 deficit.

10/11/2010 7:49:16 PM | Volleyball

'Lopes defense makes difference

By: Steve Heath

Down 2-0, Grand Canyon rallied behind a staunch defense to defeat Hawai'i Pacific 3-2 in a Pacific West Conference match at Antelope Gymnasium Monday.
HPU (10-4, 4-3) hit .516 in the second set and had a .321 attack percentage going into the third, but GCU's defense followed to hold the Sea Warriors to averages of minus-.019, .080, and .105 in sets three through five, respectively, to garner a hard-earned 22-25, 15-25, 25-23, 25-19, 15-12 win
"These girls are fighters," said GCU coach Kris Naber. "They battle each other in practice. They battle me in practice. They are going to find a way to be successful."
In the fifth set, GCU trailed 4-1 and 11-9, and then followed with four straight points. It started with a kill from sophomore Sara Bowden (Tempe, AZ, Corona del Sol, Northern Arizona) and was followed by a block from sophomores Erica Ehlo (Spokane, WA, Lewis and Clark) and Shelby Taylor (Phoenix, AZ, Christian). After an HPU attack error gave the 'Lopes the lead, senior Megan Toth (Phoenix, AZ, Arcadia) had a kill for a 13-11 advantage. GCU scored the final two points on kills from Ehlo and freshman Kaitlynn Ausmus (Glendale, AZ, Deer Valley).
GCU (9-11, 5-4) was just two points away from a loss in the third set. Tied at 23, a pair of HPU attack errors forced a fourth set.
The fourth set was all Antelopes. They led as much as 19-10 before the Sea Warriors made a late run. It was 21-19 when GCU scored the final four points. It started with a block from Toth and junior Stephanie McBride (Newbury Park, CA, Newbury Park, The Master's College), who also worked with Ausmus on another block. Ehlo ended the set with a kill.
Ehlo tied her season and career high for kills with 19 and had a GCU season-best attack percentage of .378. She also added 13 digs. It was her eighth double-double and fifth straight match with 10 or more digs.
Sophomore setter Kristen Preach (Phoenix, AZ, Xavier Prep) had 46 assists and a career-high 20 digs. Junior libero Laurann Durbin (Phoenix, AZ, Sunnyslope) had 29 digs and two service aces.
Toth finished with 10 kills, nine digs and five block assists. Ausmus had eight kills and 16 digs. McBride had four block assists.
The 'Lopes win evens the all-time series with the Sea Warriors at 6-6. Four of the last seven matches between the two have gone to five sets, with each team winning two. The last three matches between the two at Antelope Gym have all gone five sets.
After winning a five-setter against Western New Mexico on Sept. 7, GCU had lost three straight five-set matches, all in conference play, prior to Monday's victory.
"In the locker room after the second set I told them someone has to make it start," said Naber. "Afterwards I asked who started it and they all said, 'everyone.'"
The teams meet again 6 p.m. Tuesday at Antelope Gymnasium.

Box Score