By Ron Smith
October 4, 2019
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) "It was not pretty," said #17 Westmont (16-3, 7-1 GSAC) head coach Ruth McGolpin's about her team's five-set win over Menlo (10-6, 6-2 GSAC). Set scores in the Golden State Athletic Conference match were 25-20, 25-17, 21-25, 22-25 and 15-11.
 
Both teams struggled offensively with neither side producing a hitting percentage over .100
 
"Menlo is a good team," said McGolpin. "They are scrappy on defense, they are small but they were hitting deep shots. They were tipping the ball and were smart and savvy.
 
"In sets one through four, we weren't producing, we weren't attacking, we were playing tentatively, and I think we played with a little fear," accessed McGolpin.
 
"The fifth set was a turning point for us," offered McGolpin. "I asked (assistant coaches) Sarah McGough and Libby Dahlberg to talk to the upperclassmen. Between that and me demanding that the team step it up, it was a good wake up call for them.
 
"They put a stamp on the final set five. They pulled it together and showed the crowd and themselves that they could win a set five. That was only our second five-set match this season.
 
"Keelyn Kistner served a couple of aces and tough serves that got Menlo out of system," explained McGolpin. "Cassidy Rea lit it up a little bit; we needed that senior leadership.
 
"It was one of those kind of nights, but the resiliency was the thing I was most proud of in the fifth set. They could have easily packed up for the four-day break and said goodbye, but our players showed some true grit. It boiled down to them deciding they could win the game."
 
Rea led the Warriors with 16 kills while Hali Galloway added 11 more.
 
Menlo entered the matched tied with both Westmont and Vanguard for first place. While the Oaks and Warriors were battling it out on Kammerer Court, Vanguard lost to Hope International in Fullerton. As a result, Westmont is now alone in first place with Menlo and Vanguard tied for second.
 
Also losing on Friday was The Master's who fell on its home court to Westmont's next opponent – William Jessup.
 
"William Jessup is nothing to sneeze about," said McGolpin. "They are athletic and have a good size opposite. I told the team they needed to prepare for a different scenario tomorrow and come out firing because the match is going to be tough."
 
Westmont and William Jessup will meet up Saturday afternoon at two o'clock.