By Jacob Norling
September 9, 2023
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Volleyball went through their final dress rehearsals on Saturday before beginning PacWest play next week in Santa Barbara. In their final pair of pre-conference contests, Westmont clashed with CSU San Bernardino and Sonoma State in Rohnert Park, with Westmont dropping both matches in four sets.
 
Westmont battled CSU San Bernardino in the first match on Saturday, with the Yotes striking first after a convincing 25-16 set victory. In set two, however, Westmont came back from a 19-14 deficit to avoid surrendering a 2-0 advantage to the Yotes. A kill from Jessie Terlizzi began the run, and another kill from Terlizzi knotted the set at 19 before an attacking error put Westmont on top 20-19.
 
The Yotes would draw even a couple more times, but the Warriors never trailed in the set again, as back-to-back kills from Nariah Prescott allowed Westmont to even the match with a 26-24 victory.
 
Set three saw the Yotes take back control when a Westmont service error followed by an attacking error allowed San Bernardino to build a 13-6 lead early. The Warriors were unable to cut into the deficit as the Yotes took a 2-1 lead following a strong 25-14 win.
 
In the fourth set Westmont hung with the Toros through an 8-8 tie, but after San Bernardino went ahead 9-8, the Warriors never again tied the game. As the set wore on the Toros lead continued to build, and eventually, San Bernardino ended the match with a 25-17 win in set four.
 
Individually, Sara Krueger led the Warriors with eight kills, Alexa Shiner led the Warriors with 19 assists, and Taylor Distelberg led the Warriors with seven blocks.
 
"I thought our team played pretty well," said McGolpin of the first match. "A highlight for us was Taylor Distelberg, who was absolutely amazing in terms of both offense and blocking. Jessie Terlizzi did well on the attacking, as did Sara Krueger.
 
"As a team, I felt our blocking was strong all around. That was a tough team we played, and we battled. There was room for improvement, but we could have easily thrown in the towel after set one, and instead we fought back. I was happy with their grit and perseverance, and it was a hard-fought match."
 
In the final match of the weekend, Westmont went head-to-head with the Sonoma State Seawolves for the first time since 2016. The first set went Westmont's way decisively after a pair of aces from Kaili Hashimoto highlighted a six-point run that allowed the Warriors to build an 11-3 advantage. The Sea Wolves were unable to cut into Westmont's lead as a kill from Terlizzi eventually gave Westmont a 25-17 win to open the match.
 
Unfortunately for Westmont, it would be the only set the Warriors would claim. In set two, the two sides stayed neck and neck to a 23-23 tie, but in the end, an attacking error from Westmont followed by a kill from Jaden Krist gave the Seawolves a 25-23 win to even the match.
 
The third proved to be costly for Westmont, as the Warriors were unable to hold onto a 24-20 lead. Three kills from Sonoma State along with a Westmont attacking error provided new life for the Seawolves with a 24-24 tie. Then, after Westmont momentarily led at 26-25, the Seawolves scored three consecutive points to steal set three with a 28-26 win.
 
To close out the match, the Seawolves turned a 10-10 tie into a 17-12 advantage in the middle of the set, and ultimately held the distance between the two teams as Sonoma State ended the match with a 25-17 win.
 
Individually, Alexis Dennick led Westmont with 11 kills, while Minch provided 10 of her own. Distelberg led the Warriors with five blocks, while Alexa Shiner led Westmont with both 26 assists and 10 digs. Ella Hosfeld added in 15 assists of her own during the second match.
 
"We should have won that second set," noted McGolpin, "and we let one slip away. However, the bright spots were our middles, Alexis Dennick and Taylor Distelberg. Those two were amazing and both of our setters were absolutely incredible.
 
"They ran the floor with maturity and poise, and we needed it, and will continue to need that from them."
 
"We were proud of the team," continued McGolpin. "Part of the pre-conference schedule is about learning, learning how to compete, and we did. Sure, it's tough to be 3-4, but we continue to belong with our DII competition. We're excited to take what we've learned as we open the PacWest on Thursday."
 
The Warriors return to Murchison Gym on Thursday, September 14, at 7:00 p.m. when they host Fresno Pacific in the first PacWest game in Westmont College history.