GCU streaks end in five-set marathon

Saturday, October 9

GCU

6:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Chaminade University

Laurann Durbin and Kristen Preach

10/9/2010 8:03:27 PM | Volleyball

'Lopes fall to Chaminade

By: Steve Heath

In a five-set, two-hour, 12-minute marathon, Grand Canyon lost 3-2 to Chaminade in a Pacific West Conference volleyball match at Antelope Gymnasium Saturday.

The ‘Lopes lost by set scores of 21-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 18-16. The match included 199 digs (Chaminade 100, Grand Canyon 99). Each team finished with a .164 attack percentage, 214 attacks. Grand Canyon had 67 kills and Chaminade had 66.

The loss put an end to a 12-match homecourt winning streak, which included all six contests this season and the final six of 2009. The defeat also put an end to a four-match PacWest winning streak.

GCU sophomore middle hitter Shelby Taylor (Phoenix, AZ, Christian) had a career-high 16 kills and added a solo block and three block assists.

Taylor was one of four Antelopes to have double-figures in kills. Freshman Kaitlynn Ausmus (Glendale, AZ, Deer Valley) had 15. Senior Tommyka Henry (Phoenix, AZ, Alhambra, Mesa Community College) had 12 and senior Megan Toth (Phoenix, AZ, Arcadia) added 10.

Four players were in double-digits for digs, led by libero Laurann Durbin (Phoenix, AZ, Sunnyslope), who finished with a match-high 37. She also went over the 1,500-mark for her career and is the program’s all-time leader with 1,514.

Sophomore Erica Ehlo (Spokane, WA, Lewis and Clark) had 18 digs. Ausmus added 14 and sophomore setter Kristen Preach (Phoenix, AZ, Xavier Prep) had 13 to go with 52 assists, three shy of her career high and nine kills.

There were 11 ties in the fifth set. GCU had match points at 14-13 and 15-14 and Chaminade had match point at 16-15.

In the fourth set, Grand Canyon was down 21-17 and, following a timeout, scored the next five points. Two came on Silverswords attack errors, the others on kills from Toth, Preach and Henry.

Grand Canyon hit a match-best .257 in the third set to take a 2-1 lead. Ausmus had four kills, including the final point of the game. It was a close set from start to finish. Grand Canyon’s 24-21 lead was the largest by either team.

GCU trailed most of the second set and as much as four points. There were seven ties and as late as 23 before the Silverswords evened the match, 1-1. After two sets, Durbin already had 23 digs, putting her right at the 1,500 mark.

It was a balanced first-set attack. Grand Canyon had 15 kills with five players having at least two. Ausmus led with four and middle hitters Henry and Taylor each had three. Durbin had 13 first-set digs. GCU led from start to finish.

Grand Canyon will take Sunday off before hosting Hawai’i Pacific Monday and Tuesday. Both matches begin at 6 p.m.

Box Score