By Jacob Norling
October 17, 2024
 
(COSTA MESA, Calif.) Westmont Volleyball (8-8, 3-6 PacWest) went to battle with the Vanguard Lions (7-7, 4-6) for the second time in as many months on Thursday night, with the Lions completing the season sweep over the Warriors. When these two teams met in Santa Barbara in September the Warriors fell one set shy of a successful reverse sweep, but on Thursday night in Costa Mesa, the Lions took care of the Warriors in four sets.
 
The first set did not go Westmont's way, with a kill from Vanguard's Payton Darm making it 10-3 Lions before the chairs were warm. The Warriors got back within four at two points, but a furious start from the Lions sent the Warriors into their huddle searching for answers after a 25-15 first set.
 
Westmont got off on a much better foot in set two, with a kill from Audrey Hyde pushing an early Warrior advantage to 14-11. However, after a kill from Maddie Finnegan in a 17-17 game, the Warriors went cold as the Lions regained momentum. It was a kill, an ace, and a block from the Lions that sent their crowd into a frenzy, putting the home team ahead 20-17 in the set. Moments later, a kill from Vanguard's Alister Borbaro gave the Lions a 2-0 advantage after a 25-20 win.
 
It was Westmont's turn to get on the board in the third set, however, when another kill from Finnegan capped off a tone-setting 6-0 run to begin the game. Vanguard got back within three at 11-8, before a kill from Alexis Dennick began a 5-0 run for Westmont that allowed them to take complete control. In the end, Rylee Elias was credited with a kill to put Westmont on the board with a 25-17 win.
 
The good vibes were short-lived for Westmont, however, when a mirror image of set three awaited them in the fourth. Vanguard took a quick 6-0 lead of their own in the set, matching Westmont's surge from one set prior. The Lions then took it one step further, when a kill from Adeline Galvanoni made it a 7-0 lead right out of the gate.
 
Things only grew worse for Westmont as time wore on, with McGolpin's final timeout coming when the Warriors looked up at a 14-5 deficit. The Lions would not let up, however, as eventually a kill from Morgan Cole put the finishing touches on a 25-15 set four win, and 3-1 match victory.
 
Individually, Hyde led the Warriors with nine kills, while both Alexa Shiner and Ella Hosfeld contributed with 14 assists. Elias led Westmont with 13 digs, while Hyde led the team with three blocks.

"There were some people off the bench that came in and did a good job," reflected Westmont head coach Ruth McGolpin. "Kaili Hashimoto is something, in particular, that came in off the bench and did a really nice job. There were some good connections early on, with both Maddie Finnegan and Nariah Prescott, but unfortunately, there was not a whole lot elsewhere. 

"Frankly, it was a tough game to watch as a bystander. This one definitely got away from us, but we have to turn the page with another tough match in front of us on Saturday. We'll try to leave this one at the gym and move on. I really like what I'm seeing from our youth, and collectively, we just have to keep fighting."
 
Westmont returns to action on Saturday night in Fresno, when the Warriors battle the Sunbirds of Fresno Pacific at 5:00 p.m. Links to live coverage will be available on the Westmont Athletics website.