Antelopes runs home streak to 11

Saturday, October 2

GCU

6:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Dominican University

Kristen Preach had a season-high 46 assists in Saturday's 3-1 win over Dominican.

10/2/2010 8:37:30 PM | Volleyball

Sweep series with Dominican

By: Steve Heath

Saturday’s Pacific West Conference match between Grand Canyon and Dominican University of California was a lot like Friday’s.

That was both good and bad.

GCU defeated DUC 3-1, but like Friday, it got off to a good start, managed its way through some mid-match struggles before earning its third straight PacWest win and 11^th straight victory on the homecourt.

GCU won by set scores of 25-20, 22-25, 26-24, 25-17.

“It was the same as last night,” said junior Brooke Blomenkamp (Gering, NE, Gering, Western Nebraska CC), who had her most productive night as a ‘Lope with 14 kills (.290) and 15 digs. “We played a little flat in the second set, but we realized we have to keep pushing and came out with more energy in the third set.”

With the match tied 1-1, GCU had its most productive offensive set . Hitting .276, Grand Canyon took command of the match with consecutive kills from sophomore middle hitter Shelby Taylor (Phoenix, AZ, Christian) and sophomore outside hitter Erica Ehlo (Spokane, WA, Lewis and Clark) to break a tie at 24.

Holding Dominican to its worst offensive set in the fourth (.065), the ‘Lopes took control with a late 7-0 run. A kill from freshman outside hitter Kaitlynn Ausmus (Glendale, AZ, Deer Valley) made it 15-14. To wrap up the run, GCU had a pair of blocks. Taylor and Ehlo combined for one and Taylor and setter Kristen Preach (Phoenix, AZ, Xavier Prep) on the other.

“I’m happier tonight than I was last night,” said GCU coach Kris Naber. “Last night, we played consistent and well. Tonight, we didn’t click like that, but we battled through it. We earned it tonight when we could have broken down and let it slip away.”

In a repeat of Friday’s match, Grand Canyon trailed the entire second set and by as much as nine points, 15-6. It did rally to tie the match at 21 and 22, but Dominican scored the final three points.

In the first set, Grand Canyon jumped out to an 8-2 lead and led as much as eight, 15-7. Senior Megan Toth had five kills and a .286 attack percentage.

Junior libero Laurann Durbin (Phoenix, AZ, Sunnyslope) had eight digs in the opening set and finished with 27 for the second straight night.

Blomenkamp and Ehlo each had 14 kills and Taylor added 10 (.429). Ehlo also had 12 digs, giving her seven double-doubles on the season. Toth had seven kills and 14 digs. Preach had a season-high 46 assists to go with nine digs. Taylor added a solo block and four block assists. Senior Tommyka Henry (Phoenix, AZ, Alhambra) had eight kills.

GCU evened its league record and will play host to a two-match set with Chaminade Oct. 8-9.

“I think we’re coming along well,” added Blomenkamp. “We started off a little rocky, but we’re fixing the problems. We’re fixing the glitches and meshing well.”

Box Score