By Rob Goodrow
December 4, 2019
 
(SIOUX CITY, Iowa) The Westmont Warrior volleyball team lost a hard fought match in pool play on day two action at the NAIA National Championship Tournament, falling to #8 ranked Jamestown, 1-3. The Jimmies, top seeded in Pool H, came back from deep deficits in the critical third set to tie Westmont at 24 before closing out the game 31-29. The Warriors, seeded third, will play the 4th-seed, Xavier (La.) on Thursday in their final pool match.
 
After a slow start in set one, Westmont came back from an 11-16 score to catch Jamestown at 19-all. The Jimmies built back a lead that they would not relinquish to take the opening set 25-22.
 
"We were not as disciplined as we needed to be on the blocking and defensive end. We didn't play as we prepared," said Warriors head coach Ruth McGolpin about the first set. "We just didn't seem to hunker down in the middle and play defense like we had planned.
 
"Jamestown is a good team in maybe the best NAIA conference in the nation. We knew coming in that they are tall and big and have a talented attack. We could have countered that a little better in the first set."
 
In the second game, the Warriors again started from behind, with McGolpin calling timeouts down 4-7 and 9-14. Then the Warriors started to put down shots and put up points, outscoring the Jimmies 10-4 to take the lead, 19-18. Paced by possession-saving defense, staunch blocking, and some big kills from Brooklynn Cheney, the Warriors finished off the Jimmies, 25-22 to lock the match at 1-1.
 
 "We showed a lot of resilience in game two," stated McGolpin. "Our blocking was spectacular. Lexi Malone stuff-blocked a number of their shots. We were just animals on defense. Our passing was on-point in that game.
 
"We also took some good risks with sets and I was proud of our setters for making those plays. We needed to be more aggressive and willing to take chances, and those risks paid off."
 
The Warriors kept the momentum rolling into the third set, taking a 9-1 lead. Jamestown would cut into that gap but Westmont would get to set point at 24-19.
 
Though it would not be a satisfying end for the Warriors, this critical third game would transform into championship college volleyball at its finest, replete with big individual plays, emotional rallies and agonizing results.
 
The Jimmies would go on a 5-0 run to tie the game at 24 before a big hit from Westmont's Hali Galloway gave the set point back to the Warriors. Four times Jamestown would have set point, only for the Warriors to answer with a big swing from senior Cassidy Rea or Cheney or Galloway to tie it back up and extend the game. Finally, at 29-all, the Jimmies were able to string together consecutive scores to win the pivotal set.
 
"I don't think it was so much that we played poorly (at 24-19), it's just that they played so well," explained McGolpin. "I didn't sense fear in our players, we were still stroking the ball well. They (Jamestown) just made good plays.
 
"The one ingredient I think we have lacked this season is the ability to put away the ball at critical times and that was evident today. They were digging like crazy and it was their resilience. Our blocking and defense was amazing. We just couldn't put the ball down when we absolutely needed it."
 
In set four, the Warriors' Rea quickly scored two points but it would not set the pace for the rest of the game. Westmont would settle into playing catch-up throughout the elimination set, finally succumbing 19-25.
 
"The fourth set, we came out a little bit flat," said McGolpin. "We seemed to lose some focus and that's not like us. We were right there with them, though.
 
"Lauren Friis played amazing, her defensive effort was unbelievable. Madison Morrison had great saves, kept points alive. Brooklynn really anchored our passing and our middles were outstanding. It wasn't reflected in the fourth set, but we are playing our best volleyball right now. We will be better tomorrow, we'll bounce back."
 
Westmont's Cassidy Rea led all players with 17 kills. The Warriors had 17 team blocks to Jamestown's seven.
 
"I thought our blocking got better as the game progressed," said McGolpin. "The other stats are similar but we out-blocked them, and they're one of the best blocking teams in the country. They just found ways to get points when they needed to and we had more trouble with that aspect."
 
The Warriors return to the Tyson Events Center/Fleet Farm Arena tomorrow, Thursday, December 5, to play Xavier at 2:00 p.m. Central Time. Westmont is 1-1 in Pool H matches.
 
"We just have to come out firing and take care of our own side," said McGolpin of tomorrow's match. "If we play well and win, we put ourselves in position to move on. This is one of the tougher pools. There is a lot of parity between these four teams."
 
Xavier is 31-8 on the season and is 0-2 in Pool H matches, losing today to Columbia (Mo.), 1-3. Jamestown, 2-0 in Pool H play, takes on Columbia, 1-1 in Pool H matches, Thursday at 4:00 p.m. Central Time.
 
The two teams with the best record in each of the eight pools will advance to the round of 16. The single elimination games will begin Friday, November 6.