Box Score
Westmont's Murchison Gymnasium was rocking on Friday night as #17 Westmont Volleyball (18-6, 10-4 GSAC) defeated top-ranked Biola (23-3, 12-2) in four-sets (25-20, 25-22, 24-26, 30-28). The stands were packed for the Golden State Athletic Conference match-up) with boisterous students and fans who celebrated every Warrior point with gusto and rushed the court for a gigantic group hug when the final point was won.
"The crowd was unbelievable," said Westmont head coach Patti Cook. "They were a huge advantage for us tonight and a contributing factor. They helped fuel our team with a lot of adrenaline and power. "
The win broke a seven-game series winning streak by the Eagles which dated back to the 2012 season.
Four different Warriors recorded double-digit kills in a match that featured the highest level of volleyball played in Murchison Gymnasium in quite some time. As a team, the Warriors recorded a .221 attack percentage while holding the Eagles to .193. The Warriors tallied 11.5 team blocks against eight for Biola.
Sophomore Taylor Beckman posted 13 kills while producing a .257 attack percentage and recording seven blocks. Freshman Libby Dahlberg (.233 attack percentage) and senior Sydney Striff (.348 attack percentage, 6 blocks) each contributed 11 kills. Junior Jessica McCann produced 10 kills with a .192 attack percentage.
"What a fantastic match," said a thrilled Cook. "I don't know if we could have played any better. That was about the best we've played all year and what a time to do it. Our offense was amazing. Biola was also playing well.
"Everyone contributed. Everyone had a great game. Our passing was on, our serving was good. It is fun to see that we can beat the number one team in the nation when we are firing on all cylinders."
Westmont jumped out to a 4-1 start in the first set, which helped get the crowd into the game. After giving up the first point on a kill by Biola's Alyssa Mason (16 kills, .414 attack percentage), Westmont scored on a kill by Striff, a service ace by Beckman and back-to-back kills by McCann. Though the Eagles would close to within one point (10-9), Westmont did not give up the lead the rest of the set. McCann delivered the final point with an awe inspiring kill that caused the fans to erupt in celebration.
The closely contested second set featured 15 ties, the last coming at 19-all. After a Biola attack, McCann delivered a kill that gave Westmont a two-point advantage (21-19) and prompted Biola head coach Aaron Seltzer to call a timeout.
Mason responded with a kill to make it a 21-20 game before the Eagles surrendered a point on an attack error. The Warrior's front line then went to work and delivered two blocks that sent the crowd into a frenzy. The first was by Dahlberg and Striff, the second was a solo block by Striff.
Biola picked up a point on a kill by Joclyn Kirton (8 kills) and another on a Westmont setting error, making the score 24-22 before Stiff delivered the final blow to give Westmont a two-set-to-none advantage.
At 5-5 in the third set, Westmont produced a 6-1 run on kills by Striff and Sarah McGough (3 kills) and four Eagle errors. The Eagles rallied to tie the match at 16, but the Warriors responded by taking the next five points including a block by Dahlberg and Striff, a service ace by Kami Troesh (20 serve receptions with no errors, 11 digs) and a kill by Striff.
When a kill by Beckman made the score 24-21, the crowd rose to its feet in anticipation of a sweep. For the first time during the match, the moment seemed to get a little too big for the Warriors. Three Westmont errors and kills by Christina Denboer (7 kills, .333 attack percentage) and Mason resulted in a 5-0 run for the Eagles and a 26-24 win in set three.
Despite Westmont opening the fourth set with three straight points, momentum had shifted to Biola. The Eagles went up 18-12 as it tried to force the match to a decisive fifth set. With the Eagles up 23-21, a kill by Mason gave Biola set point.
This time, it was Westmont's time to rally.
Striff got thing started with a kill and then combined with Dahlberg for another block. That was followed by an attack error by Biola, tying the set at 24 apiece. Another Eagle miscue made it 25-24 in favor of the Warriors and gave Westmont a chance to serve for the match.
McCann tried to win the match with an attack but Mason and Olivia Sorensen put up a block to tie the score at 25. A kill by Dahlberg was matched with a kill by Biola's Britta Blaser (15 kills, .370 attack percentage). Beckman put the Warriors up 28-27 with another kill, but Blaser responded again tying the set at 28.
Missy Fuerst (five kills) delivered a Warrior kill to make it in 29-28 in the fourth set. That sent setter Alexa Nestlerode (23 assists, 10 digs) back to serve for Westmont's seventh match point. The serve reception would have cleared the net, but the Biola setter tried for a touch on the ball and was called for a mishandle, ending the contest.
With the win, and a three-set loss by The Master's (18-10, 9-5) to #7 Vanguard (19-4, 12-0), Westmont has taken sole possession of third place in the GSAC standings with two conference games remaining on the schedule.
Next week, the Warriors will host Hope International (12-10, 8-5) on Tuesday. On Saturday, the Warriors play a non-conference match against the Sea Beggars of Providence Christian (5-21). Both matches are scheduled to begin at seven o'clock.
