By Jacob Norling
September 6, 2024
 
(SEASIDE, Calif.) After dropping their first match of the season early on Friday, the Westmont College Volleyball team (1-1) turned it around to tally their first win of 2024 in the backend of a doubleheader. Westmont's first opponent was ninth-ranked Nebraska Kearney, who gave the Warriors a rude greeting to the season with a quick 3-0 sweep.
 
However, against the host CSU Monterey Bay Otters in the nightcap, the Warriors responded to a lopsided first-set loss by winning three consecutive sets to salvage the match.
 
In the first match of the day, none of the three sets were particularly close, with Nebraska Kearney holding the Warriors to 19, 14, and 18 points en route to the sweep.
 
"Obviously the match against Nebraska Kearney was a tough one," acknowledged Westmont head coach Ruth McGolpin. "Our hitting percentage wasn't so swift compared to theirs, but I did feel like our passing was absolutely amazing. Our DS's handled themselves great, and our outsides, Val and Maddie did a great job of passing as well.
 
"Offensive output was a struggle for us, but heck, first match of the season against the number-nine team in the country and we didn't back down. That effort translated into match number two."
 
The back half of the doubleheader did not look promising from the jump, however, when CSUMB opened up the match with a 25-16 win in set one.
 
"CSU Monterey Bay is turning into a bit of an out-of-conference rival for us," revealed McGolpin. "We played them twice last year, we're going to play them twice this year, and they've proven to be close, intense games."
 
In set two, a kill from Valerie Coward sparked a five-point run that included a pair of service aces from Taylor Distelberg. After Distelberg's second ace, Westmont enjoyed their first sizable lead of the season at 14-6. CSUMB then got one point back, only for the Warriors to respond with another four consecutive points, with the run punctuated by another kill from Coward. Eventually, a kill by freshman Maddie Finnegan solidified a 25-19 win that evened the match at one apiece.
 
In the third set the two sides traded momentum to a 16-16 tie, before another pair of kills by Finnegan bookended a game-changing 6-1 run for the Warriors. At that point Westmont led 22-17, and although the Otters got back within a point at 24-23, Distelberg solidified the swing-set win with another kill to put Westmont up 2-1.
 
"I thought our passing was great," reflected McGolpin. "I felt like the difference maker for much of the night was our defense. We got a few stuff-blocks down the stretch, and it was awesome to see the team keep at it as the night went on."
 
The fourth set proved to be the most entertaining of the night, with CSUMB leading at one by as many as six (18-12). Westmont began to slowly chip away, but the Otters still had the finish line in sight as they led by as many as four when the game entered its final stretch (21-17).
 
An attacking error, an ace from Distelberg, and a block from Sara Krueger and Alexis Dennick pulled Westmont back within one. Moments later, with CSUMB leading 22-21, the Otters committed a trio of attacking errors to completely flip the match on its ear, surrendering a 24-22 lead to the Warriors.
 
The match then ended in mind-boggling fashion for Otters fans, when a Westmont block attempt sent the ball sailing several feet out of bounds on the Otters' side of the net. Five Otters avoided the ball altogether, but all five stood frozen with their hands on their heads seconds later, when the sixth Otter chased the ball out of bounds.
 
The Otter dove and wildly swung at the ball, seemingly after thinking it first grazed one of her teammates. In reality, what would have been a 24-23 game instead turned into a 25-22 match-sealing win for Westmont, when the Otter's final swing turned into an errant pass attempt.
 
"What a resilient win," said a proud McGolpin. "We were resilient on the defensive end, and that's going to have to be our theme for the year."
 
Finnegan finished the night with an even 10 kills to lead the Warriors, with Coward posting nine right behind her. Dennick led the Warriors with four blocks, Alexa Shiner led the team with 12 digs, and Ella Hosfeld led the Warriors with 19 assists.
 
"Something that might go unnoticed in that final sequence was that Ella Hosfeld was serving bullets," continued McGolpin. "Our setters were awesome tonight, both of them, and Lexi Dennick was absolutely fantastic as well. For Lexi, both attacking and blocking, she was great."
 
"We had three different freshmen in the lineup tonight, at any given time," noted McGolpin, "and they're definitely holding themselves in a composed manner. That's great to see early. Again, though, kudos to our setters. Both Alexa Shiner and Ella Hosfeld were stellar."
 
Westmont returns to action on Saturday in Seaside, where they'll take on UC Merced (12:00 p.m.) and Menlo (4:00 p.m.). Links to follow the action live are available on the Westmont Athletics website.