By Rob Goodrow
October 5, 2019
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) After a five set victory last night, the NAIA #17 Westmont Volleyball team (17-3, 8-1 GSAC) dug themselves an early 0-2 deficit in a Saturday afternoon contest against William Jessup (7-9, 4-5 GSAC) before winning win three straight games and the match. The visiting Warriors won the first two games by identical scores, 25-22, while the host Warriors took games three and four decisively, 25-10 and 25-16, wrapping up the set in the fifth, 15-10.
 
"They were a strong serving team in games one and two," explained Westmont head coach Ruth McGolpin. "We just didn't play sharp, we didn't pass crisp. We weren't chaining points together and then on the other side, we were giving up massive runs of points to them.
 
"At the end of game two I said to (assistant coach) Sarah McGough, 'if we don't win we're going to have to change the script.' So we decided to change up our 6-2 (offensive scheme) to the 5-1 and we drew it up on the spot. We hadn't practiced that lineup since training camp. Our players just responded and things started to flow."
 
In game three the adjustment in scheme reversed Westmont's earlier trend and they used a series of runs to rout Jessup, scoring five straight points at 8-4 to give them a comfortable lead that lasted throughout the set. McGolpin noted the pivotal play of three freshmen as the key to getting control of the momentum.
 
"Keelyn Kistner was so calm leading the 5-1. Kendall Kenyon came in and had some key plays blocking. Lexi Malone started getting more comfortable for sure – she hit .241 on the day, that's pretty good. She took fire in games four and five, too."
 
McGolpin had high praise for her sophomore setter Sydney Dunn, who was asked to take on a different role in the new structure.
 
"Syd went from setter to defensive specialist and then she served great to keep them out of system, but her digging was so crucial for us. In game three she made an instinct dig that just kicked our momentum up a level and from there things started to go our way.
 
"She had to adapt the most of anyone in the scheme change and she stepped right up for us."
 
In the fourth set both Warriors' teams traded points to 9-8 before Westmont reeled off six straight to stretch out the lead that would continue to increase, winning 25-16.
 
Westmont would never trail in game five as they completed their impressive comeback by the score of 15-10. McGolpin marveled at her team's competitive will.

"True Warriors rise to the occasion and we definitely did that today. This is my favorite game of the season so far. We were in such a hole and a reverse sweep is rare. We were down 0-2 at Vanguard and made it go five but we didn't win."
 
In an effort that featured strong contributions by some of the newest Warriors, it was senior Cassidy Rea that powered the Westmont attack. Rea led all players with 20 points, 19 kills and hit at a .341 clip.
 
"Cassidy was good all match long. Her attacking was good, balanced, her off-speed shots scored but that hit she ripped down the line in game four put them on their heels," said McGolpin. "She played smart and was a great team leader – and cheerleader. When she was off rotation she was leading the bench support, you could hear her yelling the loudest."
 
With the win Saturday, Westmont now sits atop the Golden State Athletic Conference standings heading into a short break in the schedule. McGolpin assessed the Warriors' condition after playing two matches and ten sets in less than 48 hours.
 
"We are maturing as a team. It's good for our players to know we can win five game matches, that we can win with different lineups and I feel so proud of them. Honestly though, Tuesday we're back at practice and we have to be ready to work hard again."
 
Juniors Lauren Friis and Brooklynn Cheney combined for 45 digs in the winning effort.
 
Westmont volleyball plays next Saturday, October 12, on the road against The Master's at 7:00 p.m.