By Ron Smith
October 6, 2017
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Right side hitter Samantha Neely connected for 11 kills and outside hitter Brooklyn Cheney added 10 more as #6 Westmont Volleyball (22-1, 8-0 GSAC) posted a three-set sweep (25-17, 25-22, 25-16) over The Master's (7-11, 3-5).
 
"Brooklynn played a really steady game," said Westmont head coach Patti Cook. "She didn't make a ton of errors, she was passing really well and got her hands on a lot of digs. I was really pleased with her overall steady play."
 
Cheney tallied a .292 attack percentage, dug nine balls, accounted for 13 serve receptions, and recorded three blocks.
 
"Sam found a way to score," noted Cook. "She got stopped a couple of times because Master's did a nice job blocking initially on the right side. However, Sam rose to the occasion of having a solid block in front of her and started to get creative with her kills. Her roll shot is a thing of beauty. That shows a lot of maturity on her part.
 
"Master's did a good job of scouting us and remembering what we did last game against them. They were ready to play a top-seeded team. We expected that coming into the game, but we didn't expect as many blocks as they got in the first set. We gave away way too many blocks – five blocks in one set is not ideal – but our offense picked it up from there and only conceded two more blocks for the rest of the match."
 
Down 9-7 in the first set, Westmont reeled off five straight points including kills by Neely and Cheney and a service ace by Amy Buffam. Westmont did not relinquish the lead again and closed out the set on a four-point run with kill from Emma Harrah, a bock by Cheney and Libby Dahlberg, an ace serve by Lindsay Paulo and a set-ending kill by Cassidy Rea.
 
With the score tied at 19 apiece in the second set, Westmont went ahead by two on a set error by The Master's and a kill on a broken play by Cheney. Quick reaction allowed Taylor Beckman to dig an attack from the Mustangs Morgan Koch. Cassidy Rea also reacted quickly to redirect the ball to the left side of the net. Cheney had equally fast reflexes, setting the ball just over the net so that it fell to the floor on right side.
 
After a kill by The Master's Emily Curtin made the score 21-20, Harrah and Cheney teamed up for a block to give Westmont a 22-20 advantage. Once again, a kill from Curtin pulled the Mustangs within one, however Dahlberg responded with a kill to restore Westmont's two-point advantage.
 
An attack error by Curtin gave Westmont set point at 24-21 before Jane Cisar narrowed the margin to 24-22 with a kill. That would be the end of The Master's scoring as Dahlberg finished off the set with a kill to put the Warriors ahead two sets to none.
 
Westmont was more dominant in the final frame, jumping out to a four-point lead with Buffham at the service line. The Mustangs would get no closer than three points the rest of the way.
 
The Warriors will take a break from Golden State Athletic Conference play next week so that they can take part in the Columbia Fall Volleyball Classic in Columbia, Missouri. While there, Westmont will take on three top-15 ranked teams.
                                
"We are leaving early Thursday morning and are excited to see some really high-level volleyball in Missouri," said Cook. "We are excited to go up against some teams that are the same caliber as we are, the same height as we are and have the same offensive effectiveness as we have. I am excited to see how the team responds to the challenge."
 
Westmont will play #10 Missouri Baptist and the host #13 Columbia on Friday before taking on Lindenwood-Belleview and #5 Park on Saturday.