W Volleyball
11-6-09
Grand Canyon won its sixth straight volleyball match and ninth of its last 10 with a 3-0 victory over Academy of Art at Antelope Gymnasium Friday.
GCU won by set scores of 25-16, 25-18, 31-29.
The Lopes improved to 18-8 overall and 7-6 in the Pacific West Conference. The 18 wins mark the program's most victories since going 18-12 in 2000. The 1999 team went 25-7. Both were under current head coach Kris Naber.
GCU senior Dana Edington (pictured, Peoria, Ariz./Centennial) went over the 1,000 kill mark for her career. She will take 1,001 into Saturday's 2 p.m. Senior Day rematch with the Urban Knights. Edington ranks sixth on the all-time list. She is closing in on fifth place Kim Gabriel (2001-04) with 1,004 and fourth place Mandy Forrest (2000-03) with 1,008.
"It makes me feel like I've achieved a lot here," said Edington, who has battled injuries since being named PacWest Freshman of the Year in 2006. "I feel like I've worked hard for four years and after having it a little rough my sophomore and junior year, I didn't think it was achievable."
Edington led the 'Lopes in kills Friday with 12. She also had two block assists, four digs and two setting assists.
Sophomore Laurann Durbin (Phoenix, Ariz./Sunnyslope) had a team-high 12 digs and is closing in on her single-season dig record set last season. She has 521 and needs nine to tie last year's mark of 530. She is already No. 5 on the all-time list with 1,051. No. 4 is Krista Jacob (2001-04) with 1,122.
Freshman setter Kristen Preach (Phoenix, Ariz./Xavier Prep) had 27 assists, 10 digs and six kills Friday. Freshman Erica Ehlo (Spokane, Wash./Lewis and Clark) had eight kills and 11 digs. Senior Whitney Estes (Gardnerville, Nev./Douglas) had eight kills and three block assists. Freshman Katie Peterson (Glendale, Ariz./Mountain Ridge) had five kills and four block assists. Freshman Erin Compton (Billings, Mont./West) had nine digs.
Along with Edington and Estes, GCU will honor seniors Vicky Bauler (Phoenix, Ariz./Agua Fria) and Jenna Skadeland (Williston, N.D./Williston) prior to Saturday's first serve.
Academy of Art dropped to 17-13 overall and 4-9 in the PacWest. Dan Yang had 19 kills and 11 digs.
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