By Ron Smith
November 4, 2017
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) For the second year in a row, Westmont Volleyball, ranked at number six in the NAIA, finished the Golden State Athletic Conference regular season undefeated. With a 3-1 win over Menlo (21-9, 8-6 GSAC) on Saturday afternoon, the Warriors concluded the regular season with a record of 30-3 overall and 14-0 in GSAC play. The Warriors now have a 30-match conference winning streak.
 
The Warriors lost the opening set 25-16 but responded to take the next three sets 25-16, 25-16, 25-19.
 
Outside hitter Taylor Beckman notched 17 kills and posted a .255 attack percentage to lead the Warrior attack. She also recorded 10 digs and 19 serve receptions.
 
Middle blocker Libby Dahlberg tallied 14 kills while posting a .458 attack percentage. Hali Galloway hit .300 and collected 11 kills. Cassidy Rea notched 10 kills and recorded a .269 attack percentage.
 
Libero Lauren Friis anchored the Warrior defense, recording team-highs in serve receptions (23) and digs (27).
 
After dropping the first set, Westmont came out swinging in the second frame and took an 11-4 lead. Six different Warriors contributed kills during the first fifteen points with Dahlberg recording three. Westmont maintained the seven-point margin through 17-10, but then made a 7-1 run to claim a 24-11 advantage. Beckman recorded two kills during that run while Dahlberg, Samantha Neely and Rea posted one each. Dahlberg also had a solo block.
 
Menlo rallied to score the next five points, but a kill by Beckman on the outside ended the threat and tied the match at one set apiece.
 
Westmont jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the third set with two kills each from Dahlberg, Neely and Beckman. Dahlberg and Neely also teamed up on a block. Menlo would get no closer than seven points the rest of the set.
 
The fourth set remained close through the early going with Westmont holding a 10-9 lead after 19 serves. Emma Harrah, Rea and Galloway each contributed a kill to a 5-0 Warrior run that put Westmont ahead 15-9.
 
The Oaks would battle back and pull to within three points at 20-17. However, two kills from Beckman and one each from Harrah, Rea and Galloway gave Westmont the five points needed to claim the set and the match.
 
With the regular season now concluded, Westmont will turn its attention to preparing for the Golden State Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament, which will be held at The Master's next Friday and Saturday. The Warriors earned a bye in the first round and will begin play on Saturday morning, November 11, in the semifinals.
 
As the number one seed, Westmont will take on the winner between fourth-seeded Menlo and fifth-seeded The Master's (11-16, 6-8). That match will take place on Friday evening.
 
The other first round game will feature third-seeded Hope International (16-9, 8-6) against sixth-seeded Arizona Christian (13-14, 4-10). The winner of that match will play second-seeded Vanguard (17-10, 10-4) on Saturday following the Westmont match.
 
The semifinal winners will meet up at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday evening to vie for the first ever GSAC Tournament Championship and an automatic berth into the NAIA National Tournament.