By Ron Smith
November 16, 2019
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) After claiming a GSAC Regular Season co-championship, Westmont Volleyball (25-6) won the GSAC Tournament Championship outright and secured an automatic berth in the upcoming NAIA National Tournament.
 
This afternoon, Westmont defeated Vanguard in five sets (25-19, 23-25, 25-12, 25-16, 15-10) in an semifinal showdown, earning a spot in the championship match. In the nightcap, the Warriors swept the Oaks of Menlo in three sets (25-19, 25-12, 25-15) to capture the GSAC crown.
 
"Playing against Vanguard in the semifinals felt like a final," said Westmont head coach Ruth McGolpin. " It was a seesaw battle. The fifth set was ours to have. It was close, but the players put the pieces together when it was needed."
 
Senior Cassidy Rea led the Warriors with 14 kills while hitting .250. Freshman Lexi Malone added 11 kills without committing an attack error for a .458 attack percentage. Junior Brooklynn Cheney added nine kills.
 
In the deciding frame, the Warriors never trailed. With the score tied at three, Westmont went on a 6-0 run to take a commanding 9-3 lead. A pair of kills by Rea and a service ace by Alexa Gatiss fueled the Warrior run.
 
Vanguard responded by scoring on seven of the next eight serves to tie the set at 10 points apiece. However, that proved to be the last points the Lions would score.
 
After a Vanguard attack error, Patty Kerman delivered a kill to put the Warriors up 12-10. Kerman and Kendall Kenyon then teamed up on a block to give the Warriors a three-point advantage. After another Vanguard attack error, Hali Galloway scored the final point on a set from Sydny Dunn.
 
There would be little time for celebrating, however, as the championship match was less than three hours away. The final featured a showdown between the regular season co-champions, but it proved to be a one-sided affair.
 
"We put all the pieces together," said McGolpin. "Everyone played so well. Our setters (Dunn and Keelyn Kistner) set amazingly well to the right spot at the right time. Patty Kerman was on fire. We needed everyone to play great. They did so with a quiet confidence. They were on a mission."
 
As a team, Westmont produced a .286 attack percentage while holding Menlo to just .025. The right side hitters of Rea and Kerman led the way. Rea tallied 13 kills and posted a .393 attack percentage. Kerman hit .556 with 10 kills in 18 attempts without a hitting error.
 
"I told the team in practice this week that we had yet to peak," said the first-year coach. "In a hostile environment, we showed everyone, including ourselves, how well we could play."
 
With its freshly minted championship trophy headed back to Santa Barbara, the team will not have to wait long to learn what new challenge lies ahead. The NAIA National Tournament Championship field and pairings will be released on Monday morning at eight o'clock local time.