By Ron Smith
August 16, 2017
 
(FULLERTON, Calif.) Seventh-ranked Westmont Volleyball opened the season today with a split at the Hope International - Vanguard Summer Slam in Fullerton. In the opening match, Westmont defeated Lewis-Clark State in straight sets (25-22, 25-18, 25-19). However, Westmont fell in the afternoon to #25 College of Idaho by a 3-1 score (19-25, 21-25, 21-25, 20-25). The lost brought an end to Westmont's 32-regular-season-match winning streak.
 
"Typical of a young team, there are a lot of things we can improve on, but I also think that the future is very bright," offered Westmont head coach Patti Cook. " We played really well in the first game. The energy was high and we got the other team in trouble with tough serving and strong attacking. It was great experience for our freshman who played pretty steady - above their class."
 
The Warriors got off to a slow start against Lewis-Clark State (1-1), falling behind 7-3. However, Westmont took advantage of Lewis-Clark State errors to reel of six straight points and take a 9-7 lead.
 
Leading 10-11, sophomore right side hitter Cassidy Rea delivered back-to-back kills assisted by freshman setter Camryn Kaina. After a Warrior service error, the duo connected again to make the score 13-10 in favor of Westmont.
 
Junior middle blocker Libby Dahlberg and freshman outside hitter Hali Galloway teamed up to block an attack by Lewis-Clark State's Rachel Gregg. Junior right side hitter Samantha Neely delivered a kill and junior setter Amy Buffham produced a service ace to make the score 16-10.
 
However, the Warriors of Lewis-Clark State battled back from the deficit to tie the game at 20 points each. A kill from senior middle blocker Emma Harrah restored the lead to Westmont before Gregg responded in kind to tie the game at 21.
 
Rae and Dahlberg then went back-to-back with kills to put Westmont up 23-21. Lewis-Clark State's Alexa Van Vleet recorded a kill to pull the northern Warriors to within one (23-22), but Dahlberg settled the matter with back-to-back kills to claim the first set 25-23.
 
Westmont started better in the second set claiming the first three points on kills by Kaina and Neely and a service ace by Buffham. With the score 11-9 in favor of the Montecito Warriors, Westmont began to pull away. A kill by Dahlberg was followed by a block form Dahlberg and Galloway.
 
After a Lewis-Clark State attack error made it 14-9, Hayley Alvarez produced a kill for the team from Idaho.  However, Dahlberg gave Westmont the next two points, first with a kill and then with a block, to put the Warriors ahead 16-10. Lewis-Clark State would get no closer than four points the rest of the set.
 
The third set saw Westmont turn a 5-4 lead into a 10-4 advantage with Harrah recording two kills during the five-point run. Lewis-Clark State narrowed the gap to three points (14-11), before Westmont ran off five more straight that included a service ace by Paulo, a kill by freshman right-side hitter Patty Kerman and a kill by senior outside hitter Taylor Beckman.
 
Once again, Lewis-Clark State pulled to within three to make the score 21-81. However, Westmont scored four of the final five points to finalize the victory. A kill from Galloway that produced match point was followed by a kill from Dahlberg.
 
Rae tallied a team high 10 kills and posted a .381 attack percentage while Dahlberg notched nine kills and a .529 attack percentage. Kaina tallied 18 assists for the Warriors and Buffham added 12 assists and three service aces. Dahlberg led Westmont with six blocks.
 
"We got good production from our offense," noted Cook. "Cassidy played well in that game with a lot of success attacking from the right side. I was impressed with Taylor's steady presence on the court and with Hali, who showed us a bright future."
 
In the match against College of Idaho, the Warriors started well; turning a 3-3 tie in the first set into an 8-3 lead. The five-point run included a service ace by Paulo, a combination block by Neely, Harrah and Beckman, and a kill by Beckman.
 
The Warriors maintained at least a two-point lead the rest of the way. With the score 13-11, freshman outside hitter Brooklynn Cheney served up two aces in a row. Neely added a kill to make the score 16-11. Dahlberg eventually ended the set with a solo block.
 
The next three sets, however, belonged to the College of Idaho as the Coyotes claimed victory in their first match of the year.
 
"Our energy seemed to be a little bit lower," said Cook. "We came up against a tougher serving team and they got us in more trouble with our serve receive. We had a struggle getting our offense going. College of Idaho was doing a nice job on their defense, getting a lot of balls up.
 
"We have to be slow and steady and we have to get our middles engaged a bit more," assessed Cook. "As we play higher level teams, we have to have our middle attack. That takes a bit more ball control – passing the ball really well and getting the ball up to the setter when we are in transition."
 
Beckman led the Warriors in the second match with 12 kills and Neely added 11 more while hitting .333. Buffham produced 22 assists and Kaina added 16. Freshman Lauren Friis, who played as the libero, tallied 21 digs.
 
Westmont will continue tournament play tomorrow with a match against #9 Corban of Oregon (1-0) at noon before taking on #2 Dordt of Iowa (0-0).