Antelopes Finish Trip With Win Over Riverside

Saturday, September 13

Flagstaff, AZ

10 a.m.

Grand Canyon

7-2

UC Riverside

2-7

Grand Canyon

UC Riverside

Natalie Tardy had a team-high 14 kills in GCU's 3-1 win over UC Riverside. Tardy and Kenzie Phelps were named to the Lumberjack Classic All-Tournament team.

9/13/2014 2:15:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Tardy, Phelps Named To All-Tournament Team

Grand Canyon finished its weekend at the Lumberjack Classic in Flagstaff, Ariz., with a 2-1 record after earning a 3-1 (25-22, 16-25, 25-23, 25-19) victory over UC Riverside (2-7) at Rolle Activity Center Saturday.

Freshman Natalie Tardy, who joined senior Mackenzie Phelps on the all-tournament team, had a team-best 14 kills to lead four players in double figures. Senior Shannon Dugan and sophomore Megan Byrnes had 10 kills each.

With the match tied 1-1, GCU (7-2) came back from a 8-2 third-set deficit. At 14-11, GCU went on a 5-0 run. Freshman middle blocker Hannah Hicks was part of three blocks during the run, including one solo. She shared blocks with Byrnes and frosh Randahl Powers. Powers, from Flagstaff, had a kill to start the rally. Byrnes added another kill, too.
Tied at 22-22, GCU scored three of the final four points. Two kills, including the set-winner, came from Dugan. A Tardy kill gave the Lopes the lead at 23-22.

In control most of the fourth set, GCU had to shake off a late Riverside rally. Tied at 18-18, a Tardy kill began a stretch of success that led to the clincher, a combo block from Hannah Hankins and Byrnes.

"This was another team victory," said coach Kris Naber. "Our starters did a good job and the kids that came off the bench sparked us, too."

The Antelopes tied a season high with 10 kills – the same total from its 3-2 win over Albany Friday – Byrnes and Hicks were each part of seven. Hicks also had six kills.
Phelps had a team-best 13 digs. Dugan added nine digs and freshman Emily Vitel had seven. Setters Leigh Stonerook and Michelle Steagall had 24 and 15 assists, respectively.

"We put pressure on Riverside and they started to make mistakes and we started playing more consistently," said Naber. "We're going to continue to be successful if we continue to make the adjustments we've been making in matches.

"I'm excited to see our vets doing a solid job and also excited to see what our young ones have been able to do week-to-week," added Naber.

GCU returns home for a 6 p.m. match Wednesday in GCU Arena against Southern Utah.

GCU 3, UCR 1