GCU's Win Streak Ends Against Seattle U

Thursday, November 13

Antelope Gymnasium

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Seattle U

Freshman Gracie Dimond (14) and senior Mackenzie Phelps (3) celebrate a Dimond block during Thursday's WAC volleyball match against Seattle U.

11/13/2014 8:22:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Grand Canyon's five-match win streak came to an end Thursday with a 3-2 loss to Seattle U at Antelope Gymnasium.

The last four wins had come in five sets. It was only the third five-set loss of the season in 11 matches.

"One of our goals was to play consistently and that wasn't one of our strengths tonight," said GCU coach Kris Naber. "We played some great volleyball, we just didn't sustain it."

Set scores of the match were, 22-25, 25-22, 18-25, 25-20, 15-11. GCU dropped to 17-10 overall and 6-7 in the Western Athletic Conference. Seattle is 12-14 and 8-5.

The Antelopes play their final regular season match Saturday at 1 p.m., hosting Utah Valley for Senior Day. Prior to the first serve, GCU will honor its three seniors, Shannon Dugan, Hayleigh Friemoth and Mackenzie Phelps.

"Our girls have been working hard on limiting unforced errors and the last couple matches we had been doing that, but we had too many tonight, but it wasn't from a lack of effort," added Naber.

Six of Seattle's 15 fifth-set points came on GCU errors.

Freshman Natalie Tardy led GCU with 17 kills. Dugan, who leads the WAC in double-doubles had her 15th of the season with 16 kills and 11 digs. She also had two solo blocks and two block assists. Sophomore Megan Byrnes finished with 10 kills. Phelps had a team-best 14 digs and sophomore setter Michelle Steagall had 38 assists.
Tardy had seven kills in the second set, which included 12 ties and seven lead changes. Dugan had six kills in the third.

Naber also praised her team's bench. Friemoth added a spark with seven digs and three kills. Sophomore Hannah Hankins, the team leader in service aces with 33, had two of GCU's seven on Thursday. Phelps also had two aces.

"The last four weeks, we've played some great volleyball and I'm looking forward to seeing us come out strong Saturday against Utah Valley," added Naber.

SU 3, GCU 2