Antelopes Break 21-Year Mark; Improve to 10-0

Saturday, September 8

Grand Junction, CO

8 a.m.

Grand Canyon

Texas Woman's

Janae Giles, middle, was named MVP of the Crossroads Classic. Teammates Kristen Preach, left, and Hayleigh Friemoth, right, were named to the all-tournament team.

9/8/2012 9:47:00 AM | Volleyball

No. 24 Grand Canyon set a new program record for best start to a season with its ninth win, a 3-0 victory over Texas Woman’s University, then clinched the championship at the Holiday Inn Crossroads Classic in Grand Junction, Colo. with a 3-0 win against Western State Saturday.

GCU is 10-0. Its previous best start was 8-0 in 1991.

Last week, GCU won the Holiday Inn GCU Invitational.

It was the first loss of the season for TWU, which dropped to 6-1. The Antelopes won by set scores of 25-15, 25-11, 25-20. Against Western State, GCU won 25-9, 25-17, 25-16.

“They did a great job and finished strong,” coach Kris Naber said of her team. The Antelopes went 5-0 at the tournament and lost just two sets the entire tournament.

Senior outside hitter Janae Giles was named tournament MVP. Sophomore outside hitter Hayleigh Friemoth and senior setter Kristen Preach were selected to the all-tournament team.

“It’s wonderful to get recognized individually, but they always remember that they’re playing for each other,” Naber added.

Against TWU, Giles had 11 kills. Senior middle blocker Shelby Taylor added 10. Junior middle Kristen Johannsen had six kills and seven total blocks, including one solo.

Giles added three service aces and junior right side Megan Davis had five block assists. The Antelopes hit .270 and held TWU to a .109 attack average.

Against Western State, Giles had eight kills and 15 digs. Davis had a team-high nine kills. Libero Mackenzie Phelps had 23 digs. Preach had 29 assists, two service aces and three block assists
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“We’ve got a good group, physically, mentally and with a great team chemistry,” added Naber. “We have strength in unity.”

The Antelopes have had six matches in the last five days and will now be off until the PacWest opener Sept. 15 against Fresno Pacific 6 p.m. at Antelope Gymnasium.

GCU 3, TWU 0
GCU 3, WSC 0