By Ron Smith
September 30, 2017
 
(FULLERTON, Calif.) Westmont Volleyball (21-1, 7-0 GSAC), ranked fifth in the NAIA, won its 20th match in a row, defeating Hope International (11-6, 4-3) in straight sets (25-23, 25-13, 25-19) in a Golden State Athletic Conference match-up.
 
"It feels good to go undefeated in our first round of conference," said Westmont head coach Patti Cook, who was calling from a McDonald's restaurant. "We're getting our McFlurries – we call them McVictories."
 
Halfway through the conference season, Westmont holds first place in the GSAC standings with a one-game lead over Vanguard (9-7, 6-1). Menlo (14-6, 4-3) and Hope International are tied for third.
 
"Hope is a good team," noted Cook. "They are a tough offensive team and they were also picking up a lot of balls. Their libero (Anna Stevenson) was passing well for them so we were having a difficult time in the first set figuring out how to put a ball away. Once we got rolling, I really liked the emotions on the court and our momentum kept going in a positive direction."
 
Trailing 20-15 in the first set, Westmont scored the next four points to pull within one. A kill by Samantha Neely got the run going. Then, Cassidy Rea and Emma Harrah teamed up for a block. Rea added a kill.
 
Hope International rallied with two point to go up 22-19 before Westmont reeled off five more points to take a 24-22 lead. During the run, Harrah and Brooklyn Cheney produced a block, Meghan Lacey served up an ace, and Rea and Cheney added kills.
 
After the Royals' Kierra Pearson connected for a kill, Harrah secured the first set for Westmont with a kill of her own.
 
Rea and Neely, both right side hitters, finished the match with 21 of Westmont's 41 kills and posted attack percentages of .429 and .478 respectively.
 
"Libby had two blockers on her most of the night," reported Cook. "She was providing a lot of opportunities for her pins to have holes in the block. She did a great job drawing blockers. The setters had good vision, seeing that Libby had two blockers, they dished it up to the pins.
 
"Sam and Cassidy were pretty much unstoppable on offense. Sam made good plays when they had the block in front of them, making roll shots and tips. Cassidy was hammering the line and the would go back and hit the angle."
 
Cook also praised the play of her defense.
 
"Lauren Friis was everywhere on defense – she was very scrappy, picking up a lot of balls," said Cook. "Lindsey Paulo was stead in the back row and dug some nice balls. Meghan came in and did a nice job off passing."
 
Harrah made the most of her offensive opportunities, producing six kills in 10 attempts without an error. She also tallied five blocks.
 
"Emma was really good on blocking tonight. She was closing the block tightly and got her hands on a lot of balls."
 
The Warriors made quick work of the second set, jumping out to a 6-1 lead and then keeping the Royals at bay.
 
The third set was more closely contested. Down 18-17, however, the Warriors produced an 8-1 run to conclude the match. Cheney and Harrah produced a block on the left side of the net before Harrah slid over and closed the right side of the net with Rea. Three kills by Cheney and one by Dahlberg added to the run.
 
The Warriors are scheduled for just one match next week, hosting The Master's on Friday night at seven o'clock.