Canyon Picks Up 11th Straight Victory At CBU

Saturday, October 29

Riverside, CA

3 p.m.

Grand Canyon

California Baptist

Caelen Hiller, left, and Kenzie Phelps.

10/29/2011 7:07:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

'Lopes Come From Behind Again To Win

By: Steve Heath

Box Score

Grand Canyon extended its winning streak to 11 matches with a 3-2 Pacific West Conference victory over host California Baptist in Riverside, Calif. Saturday.

GCU (19-6, 10-4), in second place in the PacWest and ranked No. 10 in last week’s NCAA Division II West Region, won by set scores of 25-14, 17-25, 14-25, 25-23, 15-9.

The 11 straight wins are the most for GCU under 17th-year head coach Kris Naber. The school record is 12, set in 1993.

It was the second time this week the ‘Lopes had battled back from a 2-1 deficit (they downed Western New Mexico 3-2 Tuesday). It was the third time this season they have been one set away from a loss – second time against Cal Baptist – and rallied to win.

“I think it says a lot for our girls on how they have been able to come back from adverse situations in matches and find a way to win,” said Naber. “Like I said earlier this week, we still have a lot of work to do, but I really like the way this group continues to fight and show determination to win match after match.”

Freshman libero Mackenzie Phelps served three consecutive aces – she had four for the match -- to extend a fourth-set lead to 22-16. The ‘Lopes hung on to win the set, then took command from start to finish to win the final set.

Sophomore Caelen Hiller continues to show strides from her first season back from a serious knee injury, leading the team with a season-high 18 kills. She had just five errors in 44 attempts for a .295 average. Senior Brooke Blomenkamp had 12 kills and only one error on 29 tries for a .379 average.

Junior Janae Giles had 11 kills and senior blocker Stephanie McBride had eight kills with one error on 20 tries for a .350 average. She also had two solo blocks and three block assists. Shelby Taylor also had four block assists.
Junior setter Kristen Preach added 41 assists and Phelps added a team-high 18 digs.

Cal Baptist dropped to 15-9 overall and 7-5 in the PacWest.

The women’s volleyball team will be the first GCU team to have a regular-season contest in Grand Canyon University Arena. The ‘Lopes take on Phoenix NAIA school Arizona Christian at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Fans unable to attend can follow the match with live stats and live video links provided on the women’s volleyball schedule page.