By Tim Heiduk
September 28, 2019
 
(SANTEE, Calif.) After losing a five-set heartbreaker to #21 Vanguard on Friday night, the #17 Westmont volleyball team got back to its winning ways on Saturday with a three-set sweep over San Diego Christian (25-19, 25-19, 25-12). The Warriors, now 15-3 overall and 6-1 in the GSAC, also regained their spot tied atop the conference standings after Vanguard lost to The Master's in five sets. Westmont, Vanguard, and Menlo are all tied for first in the GSAC with identical 6-1 conference records.
 
"We progressively got better and better as the match went on, in terms of attacking, blocking, and defense," said Westmont head coach Ruth McGolpin. "Our passing started to pick up too."
 
The Hawks raced out to an early 3-0 lead in the first set, suggesting perhaps that the Warriors were still feeling the effects of their loss the night before in a battle between two first-place teams.
 
"We started out a little bit slowly, but that's to be expected I think after a tough match last night," said McGolpin.
 
San Diego Christian's advantage didn't last long though, as Westmont scored the next four points to take the lead. The teams were tied at 9-9, when the Warriors slowly began to pull away, eventually holding a 20-15 advantage. San Diego Christian battled back to within two, 21-19, but Westmont finished the set with another four-point run to win 25-19. Patty Kerman recorded all four of her kills in the first set to lead the Warriors.
 
In the second set, it was Westmont who took a 3-0 lead after Keelyn Kistner opened the set with a service ace. The Hawks battled back to within one point, trailing 4-5, before the Warriors scored seven straight points to take a resounding 12-4 lead.
 
"Our serving picked up there," said McGolpin. "We were serving their outside attackers which was good because basically their entire offense was their two outside hitters."
 
That lead proved to be insurmountable, as the closest San Diego Christian got after that was within five points. Westmont extended its lead to nine, 23-14, before the Hawks scored five of the next six points to make the score 24-19. A Brooklynn Cheney kill sealed the set for the Warriors though, who won 25-19 for the second straight set.
 
Westmont took control of the third set from the beginning, developing a sizable 17-10 advantage. The Warriors then took the next six points to go up 23-10 before completing the sweep, 25-12.
 
"We definitely got back to playing our game and we controlled the match from the get-go," said McGolpin.
 
McGolpin highlighted the play of Cassidy Rea and Lexi Malone. Rea led all players with 15 kills on only 26 attempts.
 
"She ripped one down the line and the other player was completely shocked," said McGolpin of Rea, the team's lone senior. "I don't think they've seen an attack like that from anybody. Her blocking was pretty good too. She had six blocks for us and we really needed that.
 
"Lexi Malone had a fantastic game," said McGolpin. "I told the setters before the match to definitely run the middles more and they did that. Lexi had four kills, but on 13 attempts, so that's pretty good."
 
Hali Galloway also contributed eight kills, while Kistner led both teams with 23 assists. Lauren Friis led all players with 22 digs and Cheney tallied 14.
 
"Our defense got better as the game went along. We were very scrappy and gritty," said McGolpin. "We picked up the tip really well."
 
The Warriors return to action next week with two home matches, first against Menlo on Friday at 7:00 p.m. before taking on William Jessup on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.