By Tim Heiduk
September 20, 2019
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) The #17 Westmont volleyball team (13-2 overall, 4-0 GSAC) continued its undefeated start to Golden State Athletic Conference play with a four-set win over Life Pacific (25-19, 25-13, 22-25, 25-16). The Warriors remain tied with Vanguard atop the conference standings as the only two remaining unbeaten teams.
 
"It wasn't pretty," said Westmont head coach Ruth McGolpin on her team's win. "We gave up too many runs of points."
 
The Warriors raced out of the gate to a 5-0 lead in the first set off the serving of sophomore setter Keelyn Kistner, who began the game with a service ace. Life Pacific (8-7 overall, 2-3 GSAC), whose mascot is also the Warriors, got to within three points on a few occasions, but were unable to overcome Westmont's fast start, as the home side took the first set 25-19.
 
Much like the first set, Westmont started quickly in the second game, this time developing a 10-3 advantage to prompt a Life Pacific timeout. That lead extended to 20-7, resulting in another timeout for the visitors. The teams essentially traded points the rest of the set before Westmont prevailed 25-13 after a Life Pacific attack error.
 
It then seemed to be déjà vu for the Warriors of Westmont, who found themselves trailing 13-18 in the third set against a team with the same mascot, just as they were on Tuesday night against Westcliff. Westmont once again rallied off three straight points to get within two, but history would not repeat itself, as the visitors responded well to a timeout and extended their advantage to 24-19. The home team then scored three points in a row to make the score 22-24, prompting another Life Pacific timeout. The comeback attempt fell short though, as Mariah Durant clinched the set for the visitors and forced a fourth game with a kill.
 
"Even though we didn't win that set, we definitely gained the momentum," said McGolpin. "Volleyball is definitely a game of momentum."
 
That momentum carried over into the fourth set, as Westmont took a commanding 10-1 lead.
 
"I said to my team before set four, 'We've got to defend our home court here,'" said McGolpin. "They came out with a burst of energy and a burst of mental fortitude."
 
The closest the visitors got the rest of the game was within seven points, as junior outside hitter Hali Galloway finished off the fourth set and the match with a service ace.
 
That service ace meant the Warriors ended the match just the way they started it, as serving was one of the few things that McGolpin credited in her team's win.
 
"Our serving was very good," she said. "Our blocking was good in spurts."
 
The team totaled 9 service aces, including two each from Kistner, Galloway, junior outside hitter Brooklynn Cheney and sophomore setter Sydny Dunn, whom McGolpin praised for her "outstanding defense."
 
Freshman middle Lexi Malone led the team with 4 block assists and was efficient offensively, hitting .455 with 6 kills.
 
Senior opposite Cassidy Rea was the only Westmont player with double-digit kills, leading all players with 15 while posting a .333 attack percentage.
 
Kistner's team-leading 18 assists were followed by 16 from Dunn. Junior libero Lauren Friis led Westmont with 16 digs, while Cheney and Kistner each contributed 13.
 
Westmont, now winners of seven straight, plays again tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. against Hope International, who defeated reigning GSAC champion and #25 The Master's in four sets tonight.
 
"I told the team in our huddle that Hope is a dangerous team," said McGolpin. "We expect a tough match."