Naber Gets 300th Win With 3-1 Victory at UTPA

Monday, October 21

Edinburg, TX

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

8-11, 2-5WAC

Texas-Pan American

11-14, 1-8WAC

Grand Canyon

Texas-Pan American

GCU head coach Kris Naber won her 300th career match Monday at UTPA.

Photo by: Darryl Webb

10/21/2013 8:26:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Kris Naber wasn't sure what all the excitement was about in the Grand Canyon volleyball locker room after Tuesday's 3-1 Western Athletic Conference victory over Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, Tex., Monday.

"They started clapping when I walked in and I didn't know what they were clapping about," she said, humbly.

The team was acknowledging their 19th-year head coach, who just won her 300th career match against the Broncs.

"This is a special group of girls and that's how I'll remember the 300th win," said Naber. "They've been challenged from Day 1 at the Division I level and they don't back down. That's why it's special."

Naber is 300-254 for her career. She's coming off back-to-back 20-win seasons and post season berths at the Division II level. This year's club is now 8-11 and 2-5 in the WAC.

"It's great to be at a university where you get great support from your administration," added Naber. "It's the people in the middle that are the biggest part of 300 wins, the administration, coaching staff and, ultimately, the girls out there doing it."
GCU won Monday's match by set scores of 25-18, 25-17, 15-25, 25-18.

"Going into the fourth set, it wasn't about skill anymore. It was about a choice to battle or fold and this group always battles," added Naber.

Senior right side hitter Megan Davis had a team-high 11 kills and added 13 digs. She was one of three players to record double-doubles. Senior setter Jessica Posse had 24 assists and 11 digs. Junior setter Marilyn Agae had her first career double-double with 14 assists and 14 digs.

Hayleigh Friemoth had eight kills and 13 digs. Britta Forsythe and Kaitlynn Ausmus had nine and seven kills, respectively. Mackenzie Phelps had a match-best 18 digs. Kristen Johannsen had six kills and three total blocks, including two solos.
For the match, GCU out-hit UTPA in kills (46-39) and percentage (.175-.127). Both teams had five blocks. GCU had 76 digs to UTPA's 61. The Broncs had more service aces, 8-3.

The match was the first of four road matches in six days. The Antelopes play a non-conference match at UTEP (6 p.m.) Wednesday before returning to league action Thursday at New Mexico State (6 p.m.). Fans will be able to watch the Antelopes-Aggies match on television. It will be broadcast live on Fox Sports AZ Plus. The road trip ends Saturday at Kansas City (5 p.m.). Links to live action of the matches will also be available at www.gculopes.com.

GCU 3, UTPA 1