By Ron Smith
August 15, 2019
 
(FULLERTON, Calif.) Westmont Volleyball, closed out the final day of the Hope International Summer Slam with a pair of victories to run their early-season record to 3-1. In the morning game, Westmont swept Montana Tech (2-1) in straight sets by scores of 25-18, 25-22, 25-23. This afternoon, the Warriors took down the Cougars of Saint Francis (Ind.) in four sets, 22-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-21.
 
"The team has a strong desire to win and they are never willing to settle," said head coach Ruth McGolpin. "Teamwork was our motto for today and it definitely showed."
 
Westmont's middle blockers - Kaylee Ivie and Lexi Malone - tallied seven points each to help lead the way for the Warriors.
 
"Kaylee had a great day today and played amazingly," said Ruth McGolpin. "She transitioned well, she blocked well and she was consistently available to us for hitting. One of the things I told our two setters was that we had to run our two middles more and they just did that. Kaylie and Lexi had 37 attempts, which opened up the pins."
 
Patty Kerman, hitting from the right side, led the team with eight kills while Hali Galloway, attacking from the left, added six.
 
"Our defensive effort was key," reported the coach. "We were able to get the scramble plays up with great coverage. The defensive effort was 100%."
 
Brooklynn Cheney tallied 25 serve receptions and 16 digs while Lauren Friis contributed 11 serve receptions and 23 digs.
 
"We served tough and kept them out of their strong attacking rotation," noted McGolpin. "We had more aces than errors which is always a plus. Alexis Gatiss came in the third set and served five balls. She had a high-ball set to Cassidy Rea, which was amazing."
 
The Warriors entered the final match of the day knowing they would face a formidable opponent in Saint Francis.
 
"The evening match was against a very good team with strong middles – the best middles we have seen so far," explained McGolpin.
 
Westmont lost the first set, but rallied in the second to win three sets in a row.
 
"After the first game, we came back with tough serving and scrappy defense," said McGolpin. "In sets two, three and four, we were firing on all cylinders. The blocking was fabulous and the digging was great. The desire to play as a team and play for each other was good."
 
Galloway recorded a team-high 15 points and a .367 attack percentage. Rea notched 11 kills, connecting on 11 of 21 attempts without an error for a .524 attack percentage. Cheney and Kerman added 10 points each.
 
Saturday afternoon, Westmont will host an alumni game. The following Saturday, the Warriors will travel to Thousand Oaks to take on California Lutheran at four o'clock.