By Ron Smith
October 9, 2018
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Samantha Neely tallied 13 kills and Brooklynn Cheney added 11 more as #17 Westmont Volleyball (17-4, 8-3 GSAC) swept Life Pacific (6-14, 1-9) in the first Golden State Athletic Conference match between the two teams. Life Pacific is one of two new members of the GSAC this year.
 
Neely posted a .522 attack percentage, connecting on 13 of 23 attempts while committing just one attack error. Cheney hit .450 for the Warriors, converting 11 of her 20 attempts with just two attack errors. She also tallied 19 serve receptions and 11 digs.
 
"Brooklynn is really starting to hit her stride with her attacking," said Westmont head coach Patti Cook. "She has always been a super solid passer, defender and blocker. Now she is starting to hit her stride with her offense as well, really rounding out her game nicely. What I like seeing from her is that she is being aggressive."
 
"Sam had a good block in front of her most of the night – which you are going to have when you are a three-time GSAC Attacker of the Week," noted Cook. "She expects to see more blocks coming up in front of her but what that does is to create more opportunities for her outside and her opposite. That shows the versatility and the depth of our hitters."
 
Right side hitter Cassidy Rea added nine kills to the Warriors' cause while hitting .238. Outside hitter Hali Galloway added seven kills, five serve receptions and 12 digs.
 
Quarterbacking the attack was senior setter Amy Buffham who tallied 38 assists.
 
"After the game, I complimented Amy on her setting a really good flow," reported Cook. "She only had one double called, which is impressive when she is setting every single ball. She is so strong. She handles the ball really well and she handles the flow of the game really well."
 
Sophomore libero Lauren Friis notched 11 serve receptions and nine digs.
 
"I thought our defense was really scrappy tonight," offered Cook. "We didn't have a lot of easy balls coming at us. We made good plays on hits that were outside of our regular digging zone."
 
The Warriors posted six team blocks, led by freshman middle blocker Kaylee Ivie who notched one solo block and three block assists.
 
"Kaylee has great lateral speed between the pins," noted Cook. "She is able to make a quick reaction time against the (opposing) middle and she is learning more about diving one way or another. Her athleticism is a huge benefit to our blocking front line."
 
After Westmont clinched the first set 25-14, the two squads, both nicknamed the Warriors, battled it out in the second frame.
 
Westmont held a 23-21 lead when Life Pacific's Leticia Burlet served up an ace to pull the Warriors from San Dimas to within one. Rea provided a kill on the next rally to give the Warriors set point at 24-22.
 
After a lengthy rally on the next point, it appeared that Rea had given the Warriors the win on a ball driven to the back line. However, the line judge ruled the ball long, making the score 24-23. Westmont prevailed on the next point, however, when Rea and Neely teamed up to block an attack by Mariah Puetz, giving Westmont a two-set-to-none advantage.
 
"It wasn't so much that we let down in set two," said Cook. "Life played a really good set against us, hence the closer score. They started swinging high and getting some tools and they started serving in different areas. It was good to see our players rise to the challenge and not get down by that. They really rose to the challenge in set three and came back with more focus and aggressive. It was fun to watch them answer."
 
Already up 9-6 in the third set, Westmont went on an 8-0 run to pull away and put the game out of reach. Rea and Galloway each had two kills during the streak. Buffham served for seven straight points including one ace.
 
Next up for the Warriors is a rematch with The Master's on Friday night. Three weeks prior, the Mustangs handed Westmont its first conference loss in more than two years, ending the Warriors' 32-match conference winning streak. Friday night, Westmont will look to return the favor and hand the Mustangs' their first loss in 12 matches. First serve is a seven o'clock in Murchison Gymnasium.