Phelps, Dugan Go 2-0 in GCU Dual/Tournament

Friday, April 5

GCU

10:00 a.m.

Grand Canyon

CSU Bakersfield

Shannon Dugan (25) and Mackenzie Phelps (11) won both matches Saturday and advanced to the GCU Sand Volleyball Tournament semifinals.

Photo by: Darryl Webb

4/5/2013 4:30:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

Grand Canyon lost its final dual match of the season, a 4-1 decision to visiting CSU Bakersfield at Grand Canyon Friday.

The No. 1 pair of Mackenzie Phelps and Shannon Dugan had the lone ‘Lope win, defeating Debora Araujo and Yuan Fu 21-17, 21-14. Two other matches went to a third set. At No. 2, Sara Bowden and Kristen Johannsen were edged by Mariah Alvidrez and Shayna Guitare 21-19, 12-21, 15-13. At No. 3, Caelen Hiller and Chloe Jenkins lost to Lisa Bartsch and Molly O’Hagan 21-16, 15-21, 15-7.

The teams followed the dual with the beginning of a two-day pairs tournaments. First and second round action, along with a consolation round took place Friday. Semifinals and finals will take place Saturday.

The Phelps/Dugan team advanced to the semifinals. After a first-round bye, they defeated Julia Bowen and Danika Youngblood 21-8, 21-7.

"Shannon and Kenzie did a great job defending their No. 1 position," said coach Kris Naber. "They're making it look easy by doing the little things right."
Hiller and Jenkins won their first-round match over Fernanda Gonsalves and Tamar Fowler 17-21, 21-13, 15-9, before falling in the quarterfinals.

"I was excited to see Caelen and Chloe get their first win," added Naber.

GCU’s No. 2 group of Bowden and Johannsen received a first-round bye and lost in the quarters.

Bowden/Johannsen and Hiller/Jenkins are still alive in the tournament and will compete in consolation brackets Saturday.

"We still need to work on our consistency, our finishing and making adjustments," said Naber. "We were better from the first time we played Bakersfield and it's exciting to see the program growing and getting better."

CSU Bakersfield 4, Grand Canyon 1
No. 1, Mackenzie Phelps/Shannon Dugan (GCU) def. Debora Araujo/Yuan Fu (CSUB) 21-17, 21-14
No. 2, Mariah Alvidrez/Shayna Guitare (CSUB) def. Sara Bowden/Kristen Johannsen (GCU) 21-19, 12-21, 15-13
No. 3, Lisa Bartsch/Molly O’Hagan (CSUB) def. Caelen Hiller/Chloe Jenkins (GCU) 21-16, 15-21, 15-7
No. 4, Julia Bowen/Danika Youngblood (CSUB) def. Jessica Posse/Kaitlynn Ausmus (GCU) 21-18, 21-14
No. 5, Kelsee Sawyer/Star Tucker-Campbell (CSUB) def. Brittney Spackman/Courtney Spackman (GCU) 21-8, 21-19

GCU Sand Volleyball Tournament
First Round
Sawyer/Tucker-Campbell (CSUB5) def. Posse/Ausmus (GCU4) 21-16, 23-21
O’Hagan/Bartsch (CSUB3) def. Eryn Riley/Sara Little (CSUB6) 21-19, 21-9
Guitare/Alvidrez (CSUB2) def. Sara Aloisio/Sophie Flemion (CSUB8) 21-5, 21-14
Hiller/Jenkins (GCU3) def. Fernanda Gonsalves/Tamar Fowler (CSUB7) 17-21, 21-13, 15-9
Bowen/Youngblood (CSUB4) def. Spackman/Spackman (GCU5) 21-8, 21-16
Quarterfinals
Fu/Araujo (CSUB1) def. Sawyer/Tucker-Campbell (CSUB5) 21-18, 21-15
O’Hagan/Bartsch (CSUB3) def. Bowden/Johannsen (GCU2) 21-15, 22-20
Alivdez/Guitare (CSUB2) def. Hiller/Jenkins (GCU3) 21-15, 21-13
Phelps/Dugan (GCU1) def. Bowen/Youngblood (CSUB4) 21-8, 21-7
Consolation Rounds
Gonsalves/Fowler (CSUB7) def. Aloisio/Flemion (CSUB8) 21-18, 21-17
Sawyer/Tucker-Campbell (CSUB5) def. Spackman/Spackman (GCU5) 21-17, 21-15
Bowen/Youngblood (CSUB4) def. Posse/Ausmus (GCU4) 21-11, 21-18