Antelopes Continue Improvement In Tough Loss at SU

Saturday, October 18

Seattle, WA

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

12-9, 2-6WAC

Seattle U

8-12, 4-3WAC

Grand Canyon

Seattle U

Senior Shannon Dugan had 19 kills, 12 digs and two service aces Saturday at Seattle U.

Photo by: Darryl Webb

10/18/2014 5:20:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

In a match that saw 36 ties, 22 alone in the second set, Grand Canyon came out on the short end of a 3-1 score in a Western Athletic Conference match at Seattle U Saturday.
The Antelopes lost by set scores of 25-22, 33-31, 24-26, 25-21.

"We're improving," said GCU coach Kris Naber. "We're in ballgames and giving ourselves an opportunity to get wins. The next step is to get over the hump and get victories."
GCU is 12-9 overall – already equaling as many wins as it had in the initial Division I season in 2013 – and 2-6 in the WAC. Seattle U, who was picked second in the preseason poll and garnered two first-place votes, is 8-12 and 4-3.

The Antelopes staved off six set points, including five in the second set. In the third, GCU rallied from match point to score three straight and force a fourth set. A Seattle U service error tied the score at 24-24. Shannon Dugan followed with a kill from a Michelle Steagall assist. The set went to the Lopes on a Redhawks' attack error.

Dugan and freshman Natalie Tardy – second in the WAC in kills and points – each had 19 kills. Tardy hit .286 on 49 swings and added 11 digs and two service aces. Dugan had 12 digs and two service aces.

"Natalie and Shannon were on fire today," said Naber. "Their all-around game was solid and they were both hitting on a double-block 80 percent of the time. They did a great job."

While the Lopes tied a season-high with eight service aces, they were hurt by another season-high in the service game – 15 service errors.

Libero Mackenzie Phelps had 24 digs, a career-best 10 assists and two service aces. Steagall had 38 assists and a solo block. Freshman middle blocker Hannah Hicks was five-for-five on attacks and had two block assists. Megan Byrnes added five kills and Hannah Hankins had two service aces.

Grand Canyon returns home for 10 of its final 11 matches. It takes on Texas-Pan American Thursday at 6 p.m. and New Mexico State Saturday at 1 p.m. Both matches are at Antelope Gymnasium. The team will be wearing pink uniforms on Saturday in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Fans that are unable to make it out to the gym next week can follow all the action with live video and stat links at www.gculopes.com.

SU 3, GCU 1