By Jacob Norling
April 3, 2021
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) #4 Westmont (13-0, 10-0 GSAC) finished the regular season unbeaten in Golden State Athletic Conference play after sweeping San Diego Christian (10-9, 6-6) on Saturday night.
 
The Warriors' energy was high long before the match began as Westmont celebrated senior night. Seniors Brooklynn Cheney, Hali Galloway, and Madison Morrison were honored before the game for their well-decorated Westmont careers and the Westmont team gifted them with something the three have long been accustomed to, a clean sweep victory.
 
"I think that was one of our better matches from start to finish," said Westmont head coach Ruth McGolpin. "A lot of times on senior night it can be tough to focus, and you find yourself playing poorly. But tonight that was not the case. They kept their composure all night long and I thought they did a great job."
 
A night after going up early but still losing in the first set, Westmont again took an early lead. But this time the Warriors did not allow a Hawks rally to enter the equation. Lexi Malone and Jessie Terlizzi each recorded 4 kills as the Warriors routed the Hawks 25-15 in set one.
 
In the second the two teams traded the first twelve points leading to a 6-6 tie before Westmont went on a four point run, leading to a San Diego Christian timeout. Coming out of the timeout with a 10-6 lead the Warriors went on an 8-1 run to take command of the set as they went on to put the Hawks away by a score of 25-12.
 
Malone and Terlizzi combined for another five kills in the set. Keelyn Kistner and Sydny Dunn each had seven assists through the first two sets.
 
San Diego Christian put up their best fight in the third set when they kept the Warrior lead within a point up until it was 11-10. Westmont got out to a multiple point lead for much of the middle of the set, but never more than three until the Warriors entered the final stretch up 19-16. Westmont closed out the set, and the match, on a 6-1 run to sweep San Diego Christian.
 
After losing the first set on Friday night, Westmont won six in a row against the Hawks while outscoring the opposition 150-93 to end the season series.
 
Malone and Terlizzi ended up with eight and seven kills each and appeared to overpower the Hawks front row at the net. Galloway also added six kills to celebrate her senior night.
 
"Lexi and Jessie both had really nice matches offensively," said McGolpin. "To me our whole team's performance really proved that we were the GSAC West Champs and we belong there."
 
McGolpin went on to highlight her three seniors and their legacy, saying, "I think all three of them have so much grit and have persevered through so many things in their career at Westmont.
 
"Madison had the opportunity to graduate a semester early and chose to stay to be able to see this through, and now she's our starting libero. Hali is getting to go play one more year, playing beach volleyball at the University of Hawaii, but she's been locked in all year still. We are thrilled for her future. And for Brooklynn, she's gone through a lot of ups and downs and seeing her get through this to not only be a part of our team but stick with it academically just makes us so proud of her.
 
"Those guys go the extra mile. They're not 'senior-esque'. They're gritty blue-collar people and that's the kind of program we like, with people who are willing to go the extra mile for their team on and off the court."
 
Westmont hosts Azusa Pacific next Friday at 5:00 PM and it will be the final regular season tune-up for the Warriors before the NAIA Opening Round on April 17.
 
"We have to continue working," said McGolpin. "Because we know the teams at nationals are bigger and better and stronger. So we have to continue to be disciplined and get as close as we can to playing error-free volleyball."