Antelopes Make Quick Work of NDNU in Three-Set Win

Thursday, November 1

Antelope Gymnasium

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Notre Dame de Namur

11/1/2012 7:49:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

GCU To Honor Five Seniors Prior to Match against Academy of Art Saturday

Grand Canyon upped its overall record to 21-5 and improved to 9-5 in the Pacific West Conference with a 3-0 victory over Notre Dame de Namur at Antelope Gymnasium Thursday.

GCU, ranked No. 21 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 poll and No. 3 in the West Region, won by set scores of 25-14, 25-16, 25-13.

“I thought we did a great job executing the game plan,” said GCU coach Kris Naber. “We wanted to block and we had 10.5 blocks. We wanted to play at a high level of consistency and he hit .256.

“In our overall play, there weren’t a lot of unforced errors.”

Kaitlynn Ausmus led in kills with eight and hit .350 (8-1-20). Shelby Taylor had six total blocks, including one solo. Setter Kristen Preach had 22 assists and four block assists. Ausmus and Hayleigh Friemoth had two service aces each. Libero Mackenzie Phelps led in digs with 16.

GCU hit .348 in the final set and held NDNU to a negative attack percentage in all three sets. The Argonauts (1-21, 0-13) hit -.040 for the match.

“Defensively, I think we made a lot of good adjustments, picked up some loose balls and had quick reactions,” added Naber. “We kept the momentum on our side from the first set on.”

Nine different players had kills. Friemoth added six and Kristen Johannsen had five. Phelps, Preach and Jessica Posse all had a service ace. Nine different players had digs, too. Janae Giles and Caelen Hiller had six apiece. Eight different players had a block or block assist. Lanie Muys had three block assists. Johannsen had one of GCU’s two solo blocks.

The Antelopes wrap up the home portion of the season Saturday with a 6 p.m. contest against Academy of Art at Antelope Gymnasium. It will be Senior Night. GCU will honor its five out-going players, Sydney McDowell, Giles, Sara Bowden, Taylor and Preach.

Click here for video highlights and reactions from head coach Kris Naber.

GCU 3, NDNU 0