Antelopes End UMKC's 17-Match Win Streak

Saturday, November 1

Kansas City, MO

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

15-9, 5-6

Kansas City

21-4, 9-1

Grand Canyon

Kansas City

GCU frosh Natalie Tardy had 21 kills and 17 digs in upset of WAC-leader Kansas City.

Photo by: Darryl Webb

11/1/2014 8:51:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Grand Canyon ended the 17-match win streak of Western Athletic Conference leader Kansas City with a 3-2 victory on the road Saturday.

It was GCU's third straight victory and second in a row over one of the WAC's top teams. Last Saturday at Antelope Gym, GCU (15-9, 5-6) upset defending WAC champion New Mexico State. Kansas City (21-4, 9-1), No. 78 in the latest NCAA Division I RPI, had been unbeaten in WAC play and downed the Lopes 3-2 in Phoenix in September.

"I'm incredibly proud of what these girls did tonight and so excited to see where we're headed," said GCU coach Kris Naber. "To beat a Top 100 team is a huge win for this program."

"They just plain competed tonight and that's been really exciting to watch in the last few weeks."

GCU won by set scores of 25-22, 16-25, 25-22, 18-25, 16-14.

Grand Canyon scored the first two points of the fifth set, getting a kill from frosh outside hitter Natalie Tardy and a solo block from freshman middle blocker Gracie Dimond and never trailed again. There were two fifth-set ties. Tied at 14-14, back-to-back Tardy kills ended the match. Tardy finished with a match-best 21 kills and added 17 digs, three block assists and two service aces.

"We've talked so much about composure and how to respond to all situations and they faced each one of those situations tonight," added Naber. "They responded by staying calm, playing aggressive and executing."

Senior Shannon Dugan, the reigning WAC Player of the Week, had 18 kills and six digs. Sophomore right-side hitter Megan Byrnes hit .312 with 11 kills on 32 swings with only one error. Dimond, in her first start since Sept. 20, tied her season high with three kills and led all blockers with eight, including one solo. The Antelopes out-blocked UMKC 10.5-3.0.

Senior libero Mackenzie Phelps had 35 digs and two service aces. Sophomore setter Michelle Steagall had 48 assists and 15 digs. Frosh middle blocker Hannah Hicks had five kills and two block assists. Freshman defensive specialist Emily Vitel added nine digs.

"Credit goes to our entire team," said Naber. "There was so much communication and support from the bench to players on the floor and that really makes the coaching staff proud."

The victory was GCU's fifth in the WAC, surpassing last year's total of four. The 15 total victories are three more than last year's initial season in Division I.

GCU has eight matches remaining, three in the WAC, one non-conference contest and four in the post-season transitioning school tournament. The Antelopes welcome Weber State for a 7 p.m. non-conference match at GCU Arena Monday. It is the team's final match in the arena. The remaining contests will be at Antelope Gymnasium.

GCU 3, UMKC 2