GCU Falls to UCSD In Tourney Opener

Thursday, November 17

San Bernardino, CA

3:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

UC San Diego

Stephanie McBride and Caelen Hiller go up for the block in Thursday's NCAA first-round contest with UC San Diego.

11/17/2011 5:38:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

By: Steve Heath

Box Score

Grand Canyon’s record-setting season came to an end Thursday.

A school-record 14-match winning streak and season came to a close with a 3-0 loss to UC San Diego in the first round of the NCAA Division II Women’s Volleyball Championships at Coussoulis Arena in San Bernardino, Calif.

GCU lost by set scores of 25-20, 25-19, 25-21.

Grand Canyon finishes with a 22-7 record. It was runner-up in the Pacific West Conference, after picked to finish sixth. The 22 wins are the most since the Antelopes went 25-7 in 1999. It was GCU’s first NCAA tournament appearance since 1995.

UC San Diego (22-5) advances to play Sonoma State in the second round of the West Regional Friday.

Junior outside hitter Janae Giles had a team-high nine kills and nine digs. Senior middle hitter Stephanie McBride had seven kills, three solo blocks and four block assists. Senior outside hitter Brooke Blomenkamp had six kills.

Freshman libero Mackenzie Phelps had 23 digs and two service aces. Junior setter Kristen Preach had 19 assists. Sophomore setter Jessica Posse had 10 assists and eight digs.

Playing only one set, sophomore outside hitter Kaitlynn Ausmus had three kills.

“We’re obviously disappointed, but if you look at the accomplishments this year and how we exceeded expectations, I couldn’t be prouder,” said GCU coach Kris Naber. “We made a name for Grand Canyon and our seniors (McBride and Blomenkamp) had a huge part of that and they have left their mark at Canyon.”

GCU tried to extend the game to a fourth set, but couldn’t hang on to a third-set lead. Behind the blocking of McBride, hitting of Ausmus and serving of Phelps, GCU got out to a 9-4 lead. A UCSD service error gave GCU a 19-18 lead, but the Tritons followed with seven of the final nine points.

“Now we know what it feels like and this is where we want to be,” said Naber of getting back to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 16 years. “Losing is always disappointing – and we haven’t been used to that this season – but you look at the overall season and you have to be excited and proud of what we have done and the obstacles we’ve over come. This is a very special group.”