GCU Wins Invite; Blomenkamp Named MVP

Saturday, September 10

Phoenix, AZ

4:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Hawai'i Pacific

GCU junior hitter Janae Giles had a team-best 15 kills in Saturday's win over HPU. She, along with invitational MVP Brooke Blomenkamp and libero Kenzie Phelps were named to the all-tournament team.

9/10/2011 9:34:00 PM | Volleyball

GCU Extends Win Streak to Five

By: Steve Heath

Box Score

Grand Canyon completed its sweep of the field in the 2011 Holiday Inn Grand Canyon University Invitational and started off the Pacific West Conference season with a win, as well, downing Hawai’i Pacific 3-1 at Antelope Gymnasium Saturday.

GCU (5-2, 1-0) won by set scores of 25-20, 18-25, 25-23, 25-23 and clinched the team title in the event with a 4-0 record. The Antelopes defeated Montana State Billings, Colorado Christian, Western New Mexico and HPU on their way to the championship.

Senior right side hitter Brooke Blomenkamp was named the invitational’s most valuable player. Junior outside hitter Janae Giles and freshman libero Mackenzie Phelps were selected to the all-tournament team.

Both GCU and HPU (5-5, 0-1) were 3-0 heading into Saturday’s showdown.

Tied 1-1, Grand Canyon claimed a back-and-forth third set. The ’Lopes got off to a an early lead – they were up by as much as five, 12-7 – then had to make a comeback of their own to win the game.

Trailing 23-20, GCU scored the final five points. It started with a kill from sophomore Megan Davis. Giles added a service ace. The tying point came on an HPU attack error. Sophomore Caelen Hiller had a kill to give GCU the lead and the match was wrapped up on a combo block from Davis, Hiller and sophomore middle blocker Kristen Johannsen.

Grand Canyon staved off another Sea Warriors rally in the fifth set. Tied at 23-23 – after leading by as much as six earlier in the set – the Antelopes got a block from Blomenkamp and junior middle Shelby Taylor. An HPU attack error ended the match.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the girls,” said GCU coach Kris Naber, of the 4-0 tournament run and 1-0 start in the PacWest. “We fought through adversity in each match and always found a way to win.

In the win over HPU, Giles had a double-double with 15 kills and 10 digs. Setter Kristen Preach also had a double-double with 40 assists and 14 digs, her third of the season.

Blomenkamp had eight kills and 18 digs. Phelps had a match-best 35 digs. Hiller had nine kills and 17 digs. GCU had 100 digs for the match, while HPU had 99.

Senior middle hitter Stephanie McBride had nine kills and three blocks, including one solo. Johannsen and Davis each had three blocks.

2011 Holiday Inn GCU Invitational All-Tournament Team

Player                                 School                               Pos.
Lauren Rosenthal            Colorado Christian            S
Brooke Tolman                 MSU Billings                       S
Angelina Pulu                    Western New Mexico     OH
Natasha Bell                      Hawai’i Pacific                OH
Janae Giles                       Grand Canyon                 OH
Kenzie Phelps                  Grand Canyon                   L
Brooke Blomenkamp     Grand Canyon                 RS (MVP)