10-23-07

GCU loses opener to Chaminade

HONOLULU -- Grand Canyon dropped the opening match of its Hawaii trip, losing 30-16, 30-22, 30-28 at Chaminade.

The Antelopes (7-14, 3-6 PacWest) play at Chaminade (10-6, 3-5) again Wednesday night.

Dana Edington had 11 kills for the Antelopes, who hit. .188 as a team. Shauna Nieman had eight kills, and Ashley Bright and Shea Robinson each had six. Audra Slemmer had 21 assists, and Megan Toth had 10 digs.

Samantha Miller had 12 kills, and Trina Kauliakamoa had 10 for the Silverswords. Tanya Alvino had 28 assists.

GCU got out to a 15-9 lead in Game 1 after a kill by Nieman, but Chaminade went on a 21-1 run the rest of the way. In Game 2, Grand Canyon fell behind 8-2 when Evelyn Bluthenthal pounded a kill for the Swords. GCU closed to within 18-17 on a kill by Edington. Chaminade had three aces down the stretch in a 12-5 run to close out the game.

Brooke Baker's service ace in Game 3 gave GCU a 21-20 lead. The Antelopes were within two points of sending the match to a fourth game following a Chaminade error to make it 28-26, but three GCU errors and a kill by Miller gave Chaminade the sweep.

The two teams will meet at 7:30 p.m. (HT) Wednesday to conclude the season series.