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08-25-07
Volleyball falls to Texas Permian Basin to conclude
Adams St. tourney
ALAMOSA, Colo. -- It wasn't the start the Antelopes
hoped for.
Grand Canyon University dropped its fourth straight
match Saturday afternoon at Adams State College's
Best Western Alamosa Inn/Grizzly Inn Volleyball
Classic, losing 30-26, 26-30, 30-26, 30-21 to
Texas Permian Basin.
GCU (0-4) got its best collective offensive effort
against UTPB (3-1), but still came up short.
The Antelopes pounded 62 kills in the match,
which was 18 more than any of their previous
three matches and one more than Permian Basin,
which beat No. 22 Rockhurst University earlier
in the tournament.
Grand Canyon sophomore outside hitter Dana Edington
had 14 kills and seven digs, and was named to
the all-tournament team. Sophomore hitter Whitney
Estes had 13 kills, eight digs and four blocks.
Senior setter Audra Slemmer had a season-high
51 assists, and senior middle blocker Ashley
Bright finished with 11 kills and four blocks
for the Antelopes.
Junior hitter Shauna Nieman added nine kills
and nine digs, junior middle blocker Shea Robinson
had eight kills and four blocks, and freshman
libero Katie Meyers had 32 digs.
After dropping the first game, Grand Canyon raced
out to a 9-2 lead in the second game following
a kill by Robinson. GCU maintained control throughout
the game, taking an 11-point lead on Nieman's
putaway to give the 'Lopes a 21-10 edge. Permian
Basin cut it to 25-19 on a GCU error, but Bright's
blast cushioned the lead back to 28-21 en route
to the win. Grand Canyon never trailed in the
game.
But the Falcons came out on fire in Game 3, dashing
to a 10-2 lead following a Krystal Polk kill,
and never looked back. The 'Lopes closed to within
five, 19-14, on a winner by Estes and then shrank
UTPB's lead it to three, 28-25, after Nieman's
kill. But Molly Atnip's kill sandwiched between
a kill by Estes and an Antelopes error gave Permian
Basin a 2-1 match lead.
In Game 4, GCU rolled to a 10-3 lead following
Estes' blast before UTPB went on a 7-3 run to
pull within three of the 'Lopes. Mica Lamprecht's
ace pulled the Falcons even at 16-16, and Atnip's
putaway triggered a 9-2 Permian Basin run to
close the match.
Atnip had 13 kills, Polk 12 kills and three blocks,
Lamprecht 10 kills and 11 digs, Britney McCutchen
45 assists, 10 digs and two blocks, and Amithy
Henry 10 kills for the Falcons.
Grand Canyon will play in Rockhurst University
Classic in Kansas City, Mo., Friday and Saturday.
Box Score
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