By Jacob Norling
February 24, 2021
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) After pushing the Warriors to five sets on Tuesday night, San Diego Christian came back strong on Wednesday afternoon, but once again were unable to pull off the upset. The fourth-ranked Warriors (7-0, 4-0) defeated the Hawks (5-5, 2-2) winning three straight sets, following a 25-21 loss in the first set, to get the job done on Wednesday.
 
The Hawks, who took the first-two sets last night, grabbed the opener again, despite Lexi Malone's best efforts. The sophomore led both sides with six kills in the first set alone, and finished the day with a match-high 17.
 
After dropping back-to-back sets to start the previous night, Westmont had no intention of falling into another 2-0 hole, scoring 10 of the first 13 points in route to a 25-14 win. Malone picked up right where she left off in the first set, providing another five kills, three of which landing before the Hawks could manage to get on the board.
 
Head coach Ruth McGolpin spoke highly of Malone's early performance, saying "Lexi's impact was huge. The setters did a nice job, connecting with her early, and then being able to connect with Phoebe Minch in the later sets is what made the difference for us."
 
Minch collected 11 kills in the match, with 10 of them taking place in the final two sets. In 26 attempts, Minch did not record a single error, finishing with an impressive attack percentage of .423.
 
Coach McGolpin said, "Phoebe honestly provides something a little bit different. She was roping the ball, and she was hitting her shots, and as an outside hitter she can pass in row one for us, which is a nice element to add."
 
McGolpin's club needed every bit of help they could get in the third set, with the match tied at one set apiece. The two teams stayed neck and neck for much of the set, with neither side getting any room to breathe. The Warriors and Hawks each traded one-point advantages from the time the score was 17-17 to the climax of the set at 24-24.
 
Right on que, Minch finished a kill to put the Warriors on the brink of a 2-1 set advantage. Then, reigning GSAC Setter of the Week, Sydny Dunn, sealed the deal with an ace as the Warriors took the third set, 26-24.
 
Dunn supplied Westmont with another 13 assists on Wednesday, while her teammate Keelyn Kistner took her turn in the spotlight. Kistner found the ball at her fingertips just about every possession, finishing Wednesday's match with a career-high 32 assists.
 
Looking to finish the job, the Warriors got off to a slow start in the fourth set, falling down 5-1 early. The Warriors were able to claw back, tying the set for the first time at 10, then taking their first lead at 15-14, on another kill by Minch.
 
After the Hawks tied it at 17, Westmont finished the set on an 8-2 run to win the match with Hali Galloway recording the last of her nine kills.
 
Coach McGolpin was excited to travel home with a pair of wins, stating, "Overall it was a team game, a team effort. It's a tough road trip, the longest road trip of the year and it's out of the way. So, after these wins it's time to get back home and just keep working hard."
 
Westmont's next match will come on Tuesday, March 2, as they'll take their undefeated record into the first of two matches against Hope International.
 
Due to local and state mandates, spectators will not be permitted to attend games in person. However, fans can watch online at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/westmont/ on the Westmont athletics website, and also on Roku, AppleTV, AndroidTV, and Amazon Fire TV.