'Lopes Drop Marathon Match to Dallas Baptist

Saturday, September 3

Fairbanks, AK

12 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Dallas Baptist

Kaitlynn Ausmus

9/3/2011 4:59:00 PM | Volleyball

Davis Shines With 19 Kills

By: Steve Heath

Box Score

Grand Canyon (0-2) lost a heart-breaking two-hour, 26-minute, five-set match to Dallas Baptist (2-0) at the 2011 Nanook Classic at the Patty Center in Fairbanks, Alaska Saturday.

GCU lost 3-2 by set scores of 25-20, 32-30, 20-25, 22-25, 15-13.

Sophomore Megan Davis had her best game as an Antelope, accumulating a match-best 19 kills.

Sophomores Kaitlynn Ausmus and Caelen Hiller had 14 and 13 kills, respectively.

Hiller added 20 digs and freshman Mackenzie Phelps, who played libero most of the match, had 19. Senior Stephanie McBride had four blocks, nine kills and three service aces. Junior setter Kristen Preach had 36 assists and 11 digs. Sophomore setter Jessica Posse had 21 assists.

GCU battled back from a two-set deficit. It had four set points before dropping the marathon second set and had advantages of 11-7 and 12-10 in the fifth set before the Patriots rallied back.

It was a match that saw a lot of new faces make significant contributions. Missing much of the preseason and the opener Friday against No. 16 Minnesota State, Ausmus played for the first time and was just one kill shy of tying her career high. She also had nine digs and two block assists.

Davis was the most pleasant surprise. She saw action in only six matches as a frosh and did not play Friday, but when she entered against DBU, she made a difference. Along with the 19 kills -- tied for most by a GCU player since Sara Bowden had 20 Sept. 10, 2010 against Lees-McRae – she had five digs, three block assists.

GCU will take on host Alaska Fairbanks (0-7) at 8 p.m. tonight. Fans can follow the action by either live streaming video or live stats provided by Alaska Fairbanks.