Lopes Suffer First Loss At Gonzaga

Friday, September 5

Spokane, WA

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-1

Gonzaga

3-1

Grand Canyon

GONZAGA BULLDOGS

Shannon Dugan had a team-high 12 kills and added nine digs at Gonzaga Friday.

Photo by: Darryl Webb

9/5/2014 10:01:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Grand Canyon played its best set in the second, but was not able to put together two more and suffered its first loss of the season, 3-1 (25-15, 23-25, 25-8, 25-16) to host Gonzaga in the Gonzaga Invitational Tournament at Martin Centre in Spokane, Wash., Friday.

GCU hit .344 in the second winning the set after 11 ties. Senior outside hitter Shannon Dugan had four of her team-best 12 kills.

"When we stay disciplined and stick to the game plan with adjustments along the way, we can be pretty dangerous," said coach Kris Naber. "We saw some really good moments of consistency and put Gonzaga on its heels. Unfortunately, against an experienced team you can't be sporadic."

Dugan added nine digs, while senior libero Mackenzie Phelps had a match-best 13 digs. Freshman Natalie Tardy had 10 kills and eight digs to go with three service aces. Like she did Tuesday in an exhibition against Mt. Royal, freshman Randahl Powers gave some spark off the bench, adding four kills and three digs in two sets. Setter Leigh Stonerook had 25 assists, three kills and two block assists. Freshman middle blocker Hannah Hicks added a pair of blocks.

In the second, Megan Byrnes had one of her three kills to get to set point at 24-21. The Bulldogs scored the next two, but a service error gave the Lopes the set to tie the match. Gonzaga answered with its best set of the match, jumping out to a 7-0 lead in the third and never looking back.

A pair of Tardy kills gave GCU a 3-1 lead in the fourth, but Gonzaga regained advantage at 4-3 and led the rest of the way.

"We have some things individually, and as a team, we need to work through," added Naber. "The best thing is we have the opportunity to do that tomorrow."

GCU has two matches Saturday. The Antelopes take on Montana State at noon and Canisius at 4 p.m. Fans can follow live links to the contests at www.gculopes.com.

GU 3, GCU 1