By Rob Goodrow
November 2, 2019
 
(ATHERTON, Calif.) The Westmont Volleyball team came back from an 0-2 deficit and extended the match to five games (21-25, 24-26, 25-16, 25-18, 14-16) before losing on a contested call at conference rival Menlo. The Warriors' (21-6, 12-4 GSAC) loss and the Oaks' (16-9, 12-4 GSAC) win put both teams into a three-way tie with Hope International for the conference lead heading into the final week of the regular season.
 
Warrior senior Cassidy Rea got going early in set one but Westmont could not shake the host Oaks, giving up five straight points and falling behind 17-20. The Warriors closed it to a single point deficit at 19-20 but faltered down the stretch losing five of the next seven points.
 
"In game one, our passing wasn't great," said Westmont Head Coach Ruth McGolpin. "It was the little things like that we weren't doing well. Expecting someone else to make the play, just not getting after it enough on defense to finish."
 
The visiting Warriors made an adjustment in game two that worked at improving their defensive coverage but it wasn't quite enough. Menlo took a four point lead 20-16 before Westmont charged back to take the advantage at 22-20. The momentum swung again and the Oaks again took five of the next seven points to close it out and take the two game lead.
 
"We served tough in set two and had the momentum and then it didn't end our way," noted McGolpin. "We switched to a rotating defense and that helped our blocking but then we let that late lead slip away.
 
"I reminded the team at the intermission how it felt being down 0-2 at Vanguard earlier in the season and how they changed their mindset and came back to get it to game five."
 
The Warriors responded to their coach and came out a different team in games three and four, winning by nine and seven points respectively.
 
"The positive from today is how well we played in games three and four," said McGolpin. "Both of our setters – Keelyn Kistner and Sydney Dunn - played well. They were gutsy in setting the right players at the right time and that was the difference in those sets (three and four).
 
"I thought Lexi Malone hit well and Lauren Friis had 21 digs and passed really effectively. She was steady."
 
In game five, Westmont battled to leads at 6-3, 10-6 and 12-9. Following a Menlo timeout, the momentum shifted toward the home team and they took a 15-14 lead.
 
On the next play, it appeared that senior Cassidy Rea hit off the set into the Menlo block, which directed the ball out of bounds. The official awarded the point to Menlo and the match.
 
"We had our chances in game five and we didn't close it out," admitted McGolpin. "We left it up to bad breaks and calls by the officials and that's not a way to finish after controlling that game 12-9. We let up and made some mistakes. We made our bed."
 
Despite the tough loss, the Warriors remain entrenched in the Golden State Athletic Conference race for first place. They will host their final two regular season games this week at Murchison Gymnasium. Victories in both games will ensure the Warriors of a share in the conference title.
 
"We're still in a good position," noted McGolpin. "Our first goal is to win this Friday. We'll honor our senior, Cassidy Rea, and look to take the first step to finishing out the regular season in a strong way."
 
Westmont will host Arizona Christian Friday, November 8, at 7 p.m.