GCU Wins Five-Setter To Claim First D-I Victory

Saturday, September 7

Reno, NV

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

1-4

Weber State

3-5

Grand Canyon

Weber State

Shannon Dugan had 17 kills in GCU's 3-2 win over Weber State Saturday.

Photo by: Darryl Webb

9/7/2013 6:09:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Grand Canyon won its first match as a Division I volleyball program and avenged a first-week loss with a 3-2 victory over Weber State at the Wolf Pack Invitational in Reno, Nev., Saturday.

GCU won by set scores of 17-25, 29-27, 25-20, 18-25, 15-9. The Antelopes lost a five-setter to Weber State in Ogden, Utah last week.

The Antelopes improved to 1-4. It was their third five-set match of the early season. It dropped a 3-2 contest to Illinois State Friday.

"The girls showed a lot of character," said GCU coach Kris Naber. "We were coming back from less than an hour after losing a hard-fought match. They got their minds right and executed against Weber."

Junior Shannon Dugan, in her first indoor season after playing on the No. 1 sand team in the spring, had 17 kills in the win. Kaitlynn Ausmus and Britta Forsythe each had 12. Freshman middle blocker Hannah Hankins had six total blocks, including one solo, while Mackenzie Phelps collected 24 digs.

After letting a 12-9 fifth-set lead slip away against Illinois State Friday, the Antelopes closed out the final set, breaking away from an 8-8 tie. Frosh setter Bree Davis started the rally with a kill for a 9-8 lead. Hankins and Forsythe combined on a pair of blocks. Lanie Muys had a service ace and Ausmus added a kill. The final point came on a Weber State attack error.

"We handled the pressure better," added Naber. "We've been battling opponents. Against Weber, our composure was better. We finished when we had the opportunity."

Earlier in the day, GCU lost a 3-1 contest to UC Davis, a former rival when the teams were members of the Division II California Collegiate Athletic Association. The Antelopes fell by set scores of 25-22, 25-23, 14-25, 25-19.

In the loss, Ausmus had a career-high 18 kills and hit .318 (18-4-44). Megan Davis had a double-double with 11 kills and 14 digs. Dugan had 14 kills and hit .353 (14-2-34). Phelps added 23 digs. Senior setter Jessica Posse had 30 assists, nine digs and two service aces. GCU hit .267 for the match, including a .349 in the victorious third game.

In her first career start, Hankins had seven kills, hit .238 (7-2-21) and had five block assists.

"Our freshmen (Hankins, Bree Davis and Emily Gosciminski) did a great job getting thrown in the fire," said Naber.
"We had a lot of positives this weekend," added the coach. "The kids never gave up and always battled."

Ausmus and Phelps were selected to the all-tournament team.

The Antelopes head to Hanover, N.H. for the Big Green Invitational, hosted by Dartmouth Sept. 13-14. GCU opens with a 9:30 a.m. match (Arizona Time) against Providence on Sept. 13.

GCU 3, WSU 2
UCD 3, GCU 1