Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
By
Ron Smith
The Warriors remain unbeaten (11-0) after claiming a pair of wins on the second day of the Cal State San Marcos Volleyball Tournament. In both matches, the Warriors rallied after giving up the first set.
Westmont defeated tournament host San Marcos (2-1) in five sets to claim the first win of the day. After dropping the first set 25-17, Westmont stormed back to win the second set 25-19 and the third 25-23. The Cougars kept alive with a 25-21 win in the fourth set, sending the match to a decisive fifth set.
Down 4-3 in the final frame. Libby Dahlberg recorded back-to-back service aces, Mila Maricic pounded down a kill and San Marcos committed an attack error to put the Warriors up 7-4. The Cougars pulled within one (7-6) courtesy of a kill by Lauren Lee and a Warrior attack error. However, Jessica McCann connected on three attacks in a row to give the Warriors a 10-6 advantage.
Courtney Hulla of San Marcos made it 10-7 with a kill before the Warriors rattled off four straight points on another kill from McCann, a block by Maricic and Samantha Neely, a set error by the Cougars and kill from Amy Buffam.
A Warrior service error made it 14-8 before Taylor Beckman produced the final kill to give the Warriors a 15-8 win in set five.
McCann and Dahlberg tallied 12 kills each with Maricic and Beckman adding eight apiece. Kami Troesh collected 15 serve receptions and 23 digs while Alexa Nestlerode notched 24 assists.
The miscue bug bit the Warriors in the first set against Johnson & Wales (Colo.). With the Warriors accumulating as many attack errors (10) as they did hits. Despite a .000 attack percentage, the Warriors managed to keep the game close, but fell to the Wildcats 25-23.
The next three sets, however, were nothing like the first. The Warriors committed a total of nine attack errors over the rest of the match and simply dominated the Wildcats (4-9), taking the remaining sets 25-12, 25-8 and 25-14.
Once again, Dahlberg and McCann led the Warrior attack, tallying 10 kills apiece. Beckman and Maricic added nine each and Neely contributed eight. Buffam produced 27 assists while Troesh compiled 25 digs and nine service receptions.
Next Friday and Saturday, Westmont will take its perfect record north to open Golden State Athletic Conference play against William Jessup on Friday and Menlo on Saturday. The Warriors are one win away from tying their best start in program history.
