Canyon Sets New Mark With Win At Dixie

Saturday, November 5

St. George, UT

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Dixie State

Caelen Hiller had a team-high 14 kills in Saturday's record-setting win at Dixie State.

11/5/2011 11:52:00 PM | Volleyball

Antelopes Keep Post Season Hopes Alive

By: Steve Heath

Box Score

Grand Canyon’s volleyball team set a new mark for consecutive wins by recording their 13th straight triumph, 3-0, against Dixie State (13-10, 8-7) in a Pacific West Conference match in St. George, Utah Saturday.

GCU (21-6, 11-4) defeated the Red Storm for the first time since Sept. 20, 2008 – a stretch of five straight losses – and for the first time in St. George since a 3-2 triumph Sept. 29, 2007.

The ‘Lopes won by match scores of 25-18, 25-21, 25-18.

“Tonight was a complete team effort,” said coach Kris Naber. “I’m proud of these young ladies and can’t wait to get back into the gym next week.”

Sophomore outside hitter Caelen Hiller had a team-high 14 kills with only four errors in 30 attempts for a .333 attack percentage. GCU hit .269 as a team. Junior Janae Giles had 13 kills and a .242 average. She also had 13 digs. Senior middle hitter Stephanie McBride had eight kills on 11 tries with only two errors for a .545 percentage.

Junior setter Kristen Preach had 42 assists. Freshman libero Mackenzie Phelps had 18 digs.

Down 14-12 in the first set, GCU ran off eight straight points. And to prove Naber’s team-effort point, the first four came on kills by four different players. Senior right side hitter Brooke Blomenkamp started the rally, McBride, Giles and Hiller all followed. A pair of Dixie State hitting errors and two more kills from McBride, gave the ’Lopes a 20-14 advantage.

Holding a slim 22-21 lead in the third, GCU ran off the final three points on kills from Hiller, Preach and Giles, respectively. After breaking a 6-6 third-set tie on a Hiller kill, GCU led the rest of the way.

The win also gave GCU a perfect road record (11-0) for the regular season.

GCU, picked to finish sixth in the PacWest, is guaranteed a share of second place with only one regular-season match remaining. The ‘Lopes are No. 10 in the NCAA West Region rankings and hopeful to move up to the top eight to qualify for the region tournament for the first time since 1995.

The final regular season contest is 6 p.m., Nov. 12, Senior Night, at Antelope Gym against Dixie State. The ‘Lopes will honor their two out-going standouts Brooke Blomenkamp and Stephanie McBride.

Fans unable to attend can follow the action with live stats and live video links available on the women’s volleyball schedule page.