By Ron Smith
April 28, 2021
 
(SIOUX CITY, Iowa) Westmont Volleyball saw its season come to an end a bit earlier than it wanted it to when the Warriors (15-2) were upset by #14 Grand View (Iowa) in pool play at the NAIA National Championships. The Vikings defeated the Warriors 3-1 (25-18, 25-15, 25-23, 26-24).
 
Westmont saw solid offensive production from Lexi Malone, Hali Galloway and Brooklynn Cheney, but it wasn't enough to stop some critical runs by the Vikings.
 
"I thought we played really hard," said Westmont head coach Ruth McGolpin. "Even in the last set, there was no giving up. I knew this match would be tough. Grand View is always a hard opponent for us."
 
Three players made significant contributions to the Warrior cause in their final match in Westmont uniforms. Hali Galloway tallied 15 kills, 32 serve receptions and eight digs while producing a .345 attack percentage. Brooklynn Cheney notched 12 kills, 12 serve receptions and 17 digs. Madison Morrison posted 22 serve receptions, 16 digs and three service aces.
 
"The seniors have such character and heart," said Westmont head coach Ruth McGolpin who was clearly disappointed in the result but proud of her team and their effort. "They've left a legacy of servant leadership. They are the hardest work of seniors. I am super proud of those three. There were six in their group when they arrived. Patty is in the next class because of her ACL tear. They stuck it out with us and never quit. They are friends with one another and are leaving a legacy of resilience."
 
Unfortunately, the Warriors found themselves unable to stop the Vikings' Jenna Wagemester who tallied 32 kills on 55 attempts without committing an error. In each set won by Grand View, the Vikings produced a run led by Wagemester.
 
"She had reckless abandon when hitting," assessed McGolpin. "We couldn't stop her. Her attack was unbelievable and we didn't have answers for her."
 
In the first set, Westmont had a 15-12 lead before the Vikings reeled off eight straight points – four on kills by Wagemester.
 
At the same score in the second set, it was the Warriors who produced an 8-0 run. Galloway, Malone and Cheney each contributed a kill in the run and Malone and Patty Kerman teamed up for a block. Morison contributed an ace.
 
Malone led the Warriors with 16 kills in the match and posted a .325 attack percentage. She and Kerman each had four block assists.
 
In the third set, Westmont held a 21-16 lead and looked to be headed to a two-set-to-one lead. However, Grand View produced a 7-0 run and claimed the set for their own.
 
The early going of the fourth set belonged to the Vikings, who posted a 10-4 lead. A 9-1 Warrior run turned the tide and put Westmont back in the hunt. The run included blocks by Malone and Kerman on back-to-back points, two kills by Cheney and a service ace by Lilian Reininga.
 
The score remained close the rest of the set, but at 23-23 Wagemester recorded kills on three of the next four rallies to secure the win for Grand View and bring Westmont's season to an end.
 
"I am proud of their efforts all year long," said McGolpin, "It could have been a non-season, but we made it to nationals."
 
Galloway ends her collegiate career with 1065 kills, which ranks 16th on Westmont's career kill list. She also recorded a career 131 blocks and 849 digs.
 
Cheney tallied 854 kills over her four years. She ranks first in career serve reception at .969 with 2,874 career serve receptions, more than any previous Warriors. Cheney ranks fourth in career digs (1,788) and sixth in digs per set at 3.87. Her 91 service aces ties for 18th on the all-time list.
 
Morrison's notched 1,096 career receptions and ranks 13th in serve reception percentage at .943. Morrison also recorded a career 795 digs.
 
The Warriors will have a shortened off-season before returning to training camp in August. Before 2021 is over, Westmont will seek to earn another trip to Sioux City for another shot at the national championship.