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GC spikers off to<br>2-0 start in region

GCNP — The Grand Canyon High School volleyball team looked impressive in victories over Leupp and Fredonia late last week with the wins over the Lady Lynx giving the Phantoms a 2-0 record in the 1A North Region.

Grand Canyon cruised to wins of 15-12, 15-12 and 15-12, 15-6 over Fredonia in action from Friday. The previous day, the Lady Phantoms beat Leupp by scores of 15-10, 15-4 and 15-0, 15-3.

Grand Canyon’s serve reception was just one area the team excelled in during Thursday’s sweep over Leupp.

Phantoms coach Matt Yost said Erin Wahler was good as usual and Megan Boyd “tore it up” in Thursday’s games. Melissa Haufle also was a key player with several good hits.

Grand Canyon followed with a Saturday appearance in the Joseph City Invitational. The Lady Phantoms struggled at times and ended up going 1-3 at the event.

Because of another school running late with bus problems, Grand Canyon’s first match was played with rally scoring all the way through. East Fork took the win, 5-15, 15-9, 6-2. When third games were necessary, rally scoring to six points was the system used.

Seligman followed with a win over Grand Canyon, 14-15, 15-11, 6-0. The unusual first game was the result of another tournament rule which did not require a team to win by two points.

“We got a look at some conference teams,” Yost said. “It’s the second time we’ve seen Seligman. If we play our game, we have a chance.”

Grand Canyon got its only win in the tourney over Ash Fork, 15-5, 15-12. In their final match, the Lady Phantoms lost to Valley, 15-4, 15-6.

Easy win vs. Leupp

Grand Canyon had a suspect start against Leupp in the first match but then got things together to win easily. Leupp actually jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first game of the first match as Grand Canyon struggled with passing. Another problem early was serving. The Lady Phantoms were good on only four of their first 14 serves.

With Kara Foo serving, Grand Canyon scored four straight to get back into it. Leupp went up 8-4 before the Phantoms scored their fifth point with Foo serving again. Later, trailing 9-5, Grand Canyon outscored Leupp 10-1 the rest of the way. Serving was a key. After the rough start, the Phantoms finished by putting all but one serve in play.

The team scored eight straight points with Wahler serving. Cally Foo served for a point and Amy Northup served for the 15th point with Boyd getting the kill spike.

In the second game, Grand Canyon turned a 4-2 close lead into a 15-4 win. Kara Foo served for seven straight points in one string. Boyd and Northup had big hits and Michele Mickelson came up with a nice save on the eighth point.

The Phantoms won with Wahler serving for the final four points.

In the second match, Grand Canyon blanked Leupp, 15-0. Northup served for four, Mickelson for one, Kara Foo for two, Wahler for seven and Boyd for one.

Wahler had a highlight at the net with a powerful kill spike on the sixth point. Leupp struggled most of the game with serve reception.

In the second game of the second match, Grand Canyon cruised again, 15-3. The team scored 12 unanswered points during one stretch with Kara Foo, Wahler, Cally Foo and Mickelson serving for points.

Boyd had a strong serve on point 14 and Kara Foo served for the win on point 15. Highlights during this game included a couple of nice hits from Haufle and ace serves by Wahler and Mickelson.

The Phantoms (2-0 in region, 8-7 overall) will play at Joseph City Friday and host Williams Saturday.

The Grand Canyon-Williams matches are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.


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