GCU Winning Streak Ends At Eight

Tuesday, September 27

Phoenix, AZ

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Hawai'i Hilo

Caelen Hiller had four kills, no errors, and 15 digs against Hawai'i Hilo Tuesday.

9/27/2011 8:50:00 PM | Volleyball

'Lopes Suffer First Conference Loss

By: Steve Heath

Box Score

Grand Canyon had its eight-match winning streak come to an end against Hawai'i Hilo at Antelope Gymnasium Tuesday.

GCU (8-3. 2-1) lost 3-1 by set scores of 25-23, 27-29, 25-18, 25-6. The two teams were in a four-way tie for first place in the Pacific West Conference prior to the match.

The squads meet again 4 p.m. Wednesday at Antelope Gymnasium.

"We have an opportunity to make a change (Wednesday) and do what we weren't able to do tonight," said GCU coach Kris Naber. "We need to get off to better starts."

GCU trailed early in three of four sets. It rallied, but fell a couple points shy in the first set, then came back with momentum to win a back-and-forth second game. Hilo led from start to finish in the final two sets.

Senior right side hitter Brooke Blomenkamp led GCU in kills with 11. Sophomore outside hitter Kaitlynn Ausmus and junior outside hitter Janae Giles each had 10.

Junior middle hitter Shelby Taylor had seven kills and only one error, on 16 attempts, for a .375 hitting percentage. She added a team-high three block assists. Frosh libero Mackenzie Phelps had a match-high 21 digs. Junior setter Kristen Preach had 28 assists and 11 digs. Sophomore Caelen Hiller had 15 digs and four kills without an error.

Hilo was led by Hillary Hurley with 33 kills and a .351 attack percentage.