10-24-07

Volleyball drops second match at Chaminade

HONOLULU -- Grand Canyon University fell on a second consecutive match to Chaminade Wednesday night, losing 30-22, 30-18, 30-23.

Chaminade (11-6, 4-5 PacWest) became the first league school to sweep the Antelopes (7-15, 3-7) this season.

Grand Canyon will play at Hawaii Hilo Friday and Saturday nights. Hilo clinched a share of the PacWest title, and is seeking one more win to secure the outright crown.

GCU freshman Megan Toth (Arcadia) had nine kills, and senior middle blocker Ashley Bright (Mingus) had seven kills and five blocks. Sophomore hitter Dana Edington (Centennial) had seven kills and eight digs. Freshman libero Katie Meyers (Sunnyslope) had 17 digs, seven assists and two aces. Senior Aubrie Lussier (St. Johns) had seven assists.

Chaminade’s Trina Kauliakamoa had 14 kills, and Evelyn Bluthental had 10. Tanya Alvino had 36 assists.

GCU hit .191. CUH hit .330.

Grand Canyon trailed 16-6 in Game 1, and closed to within 28-20 on a kill by Edington before Chaminade wrapped up the game. In Game 2, Chaminade raced to a 10-1 lead on a kill by Kauliakamoa. Toth’s kill pulled GCU within 23-13, but CUH closed out the game with seven of the next 12 points.

Bluthenthal’s kill gave Chaminade a 9-3 lead in Game 3. Back-to-back service aces by Meyers pulled Grand Canyon within 14-10. Caitlin Dowd's putaway pushed the Silverswords out to a 25-18 lead. Kills by Lussier and junior Shauna Nieman (SCC/Corona del Sol) helped GCU cut it to 29-23, but Chaminade sealed it on the next serve.