California Baptist University
Grand Canyon University
CANYON COLLAPSE
9/25/2011 12:25:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
PHOENIX, Ariz. --- California Baptist University suffered its first PacWest loss this season, falling in stunning fashion to Grand Canyon Saturday afternoon.
The Lancers looked to be cruising to a win, going up 2-0 in the match before the home team Antelopes fought back for the five set win (13-25, 23-25, 25-20, 25-19, 15-8). It was the eighth win in a row for Grand Canyon which moves to 2-0 on conference play, 8-2 overall. CBU falls to 7-5, 1-1.
The Lancers dominated the opening set, taking a comfortable 12-point win and then narrowly took the second. CBU hit .320 and .244 while recording 29 kills in the opening two games.
From there on out the Lancers would hit progressively worse and notch just 27 kills in the final three games. CBU hit .000 on five kills in the decisive fifth set.
CBU still had hopes of a sweep late in the third game, holding a 19-18 lead. Three straight points, which included two Lancer errors, later and GCU took a 21-19 lead. CBU never got back on track, getting outscored 4-1 as the Antelopes took the game.
The third set featured 13 ties and four lead changes.
Bree Rauschenbach was the only CBU player who could get anything going offensively, hitting .455 on 16 kills. Rauschenbach also posted six service aces and a pair of blocking assists.
GCU had three players post double-digit kill totals and the Antelopes' Mackenzie Phelps led all players with 27 digs in the match.
It was the Lancers' second straight loss, first this season to an unranked Division II opponent.
CBU is back in action Friday when the Lancers host Hawaii-Hilo at 7 p.m.
