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Former GCU standout places 5th at AVP
8/6/2020 4:15:00 PM | Volleyball, Beach Volleyball
Phelps-Ponnet and partner finished 5th at pro tour's Porsche Cup
Former Grand Canyon indoor and beach volleyball player Mackenzie Phelps (now Ponnet) and partner Sheila Shaw placed fifth at the AVP Porsche Cup last weekend in Long Beach, California.
Ponnet and Shaw were the surprise of the pro beach volleyball tournament's qualifying round, where they entered as the No. 6 seed. They qualified as the main draw's No. 8 seed by winning three consecutive qualifying matches last week.
The pair opened the main draw Saturday against the tournament's top-seeded duo, April Ross and Alix Klineman, and lost 15-21, 19-21, but bounced back in the contender's bracket. They rallied from a first-set loss in their opening contender's bracket match to beat the No. 5 seed of the main draw. They were eliminated in a tight 16-21, 21-19, 14-16 match to finish in fifth place on Sunday.
"Kenzie was one of those athletes who always gave 110% and would push through just about anything," GCU beach volleyball head coach Kristen Rohr said. "I had no doubt seeing her passion, work ethic and drive in college that she had the opportunity to be successful at the pro level. I have been fortunate to still get to be a part of her journey and love seeing her success."
Ponnet, who earned a master's degree at GCU, earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association's West Region Freshman of the Year and the Pac West Conference's Co-Libero of the Year on the indoor courts in 2011. She also set the GCU indoor records for career digs and single-match digs while also earning All-American honors for beach volleyball in 2015 and 2016.
Ponnet and Shaw were the surprise of the pro beach volleyball tournament's qualifying round, where they entered as the No. 6 seed. They qualified as the main draw's No. 8 seed by winning three consecutive qualifying matches last week.
The pair opened the main draw Saturday against the tournament's top-seeded duo, April Ross and Alix Klineman, and lost 15-21, 19-21, but bounced back in the contender's bracket. They rallied from a first-set loss in their opening contender's bracket match to beat the No. 5 seed of the main draw. They were eliminated in a tight 16-21, 21-19, 14-16 match to finish in fifth place on Sunday.
"Kenzie was one of those athletes who always gave 110% and would push through just about anything," GCU beach volleyball head coach Kristen Rohr said. "I had no doubt seeing her passion, work ethic and drive in college that she had the opportunity to be successful at the pro level. I have been fortunate to still get to be a part of her journey and love seeing her success."
Ponnet, who earned a master's degree at GCU, earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association's West Region Freshman of the Year and the Pac West Conference's Co-Libero of the Year on the indoor courts in 2011. She also set the GCU indoor records for career digs and single-match digs while also earning All-American honors for beach volleyball in 2015 and 2016.
Players Mentioned
/ Beach Volleyball
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