By Ron Smith
April 10, 2021
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Volleyball (13-1), ranked third in the NAIA, dropped its first match of the season, falling to the Cougars of Azusa Pacific (6-2) in five sets. Despite the loss, Westmont head coach Ruth McGolpin was upbeat about the contest.
 
"It is definitely the best opponent we have played on the year and I feel like we played the best we have all year," asserted McGolpin. "The outcome wasn't what we hoped for, but I am super pleased. Going into nationals, we will see those kinds of teams – maybe not as complete a team as APU and a team that makes a few more mistakes than APU. However, those are the kind of teams we will see.
 
"We made some mistakes in critical situations, which can be learning moments for us. One play here or there could have made the difference."
 
The Warriors cruised to a 25-15 victory in the first set, but the rest of the match was fiercely contested. Westmont won set two 25-23 before Azusa Pacific took the next three sets 30-28, 25-22, 18-16.
 
Senior outside hitter Hali Galloway led the Warriors with 20 kills while producing a .260 attack percentage.
 
"Hali played well," affirmed McGolpin. "She was hitting a high-hand ball."
 
Freshman right-side hitter Jessie Terlizzi added 12 kills to the Warrior cause while sophomore middle blocker Lexi Malone notched 11.
 
Defensively, Westmont seniors Madison Morrison and Brooklynn Cheney took control of the back line. Morrison tallied 27 digs and 27 serve receptions. Cheney notched 23 digs and 28 serve receptions. Neither one committed a serve receive error.
 
As a team, Westmont tallied 11 blocks including solo blocks by Malone, Terlizzi and Phoebe Minch.
 
"We figured out, for the most part, how to block there outside hitters," noted McGolpin. "Madison was on fire defensively. Her passing was outstanding."
 
Sophomore setter Keelyn Kistner produced 31 assists.
 
"I anticipated that this match would go five sets," said McGolpin. "This whole week, the design of practice was to prepare us for that. I am pleased that we got five sets in against a good opponent."
 
Having concluded the regular season, Westmont begins preparing for postseason play. The Warriors will learn Monday who their opening round will be and whether they will need to travel or be awarded a home game.