By Jacob Norling
September 7, 2024
 
(SEASIDE, Calif.) After dropping their first four sets on Friday the Warriors responded by winning three consecutive sets to get in the win column. On Saturday, Westmont Volleyball (3-1) followed it up with a pair of sweeps to finish the weekend on a three-match, nine-set winning streak.
 
"Two sweeps, 2-0 on the day, we're leaving with a good feeling," said Westmont head coach Ruth McGolpin. "We played against two tough teams today, but we played with some grit, led by some unbelievable passing and defense.
 
"We were able to run our middles today, with both Taylor Distelberg and Alexis Dennick on fire. They were incredible in both attacking and blocking on the day. Rylee Elias was another person who stepped up, in the double-libero role, with some great passing."
 
In the first match of the day the Warriors squared-up against UC Merced, with the Bobcats unable to keep up with Westmont's relentless defense. In the eventual three-set sweep, Westmont out-blocked the Bobcats 11-2, with Dennick providing eight to lead all players. Offensively, Sara Krueger recorded 10 kills, Taylor Distelberg delivered nine, and Dennick contributed with another five as well. Westmont's setters, Alexa Shiner and Ella Hosfeld, each contributed with 13 assists, while Elias led the way with 11 digs.
 
Westmont won the match 25-20, 25-21, and 25-23, all while holding the Bobcats to a microscopic .111 attack percentage.
 
In game two the Warriors reacquainted themselves with the Menlo Oaks, and once again had solid contributions from several Warriors en route to the sweep. Krueger and Distelberg each added another eight kills, while Maddie Finnegan added six of her own. Distelberg led the block party with four, Malia de Jesus led the team with 10 digs, and Hosfeld led the Warriors with 15 assists.
 
Each set against the Oaks got closer and closer, with the Warriors opening the match with a 25-21 win followed by a 25-23 victory. In set three the Warriors appeared to be marching towards the finish line as a kill from Krueger concluded a run that saw Westmont's lead grow to 13-7. However, after the blink of an eye the scoreboard read 15-all after a surge from Menlo.
 
A similar trend followed when Westmont regained a 21-17 advantage, only for Menlo to draw even once again at 23-all. With the score knotted at 24, a block from Dennick and Audrey Hyde pulled Westmont within a point of victory. Moments later, an attacking error from Menlo sealed the deal for a six-set Saturday sweep by the Westmont Warriors.
 
"It was a great weekend for us," reflected McGolpin, "and now we have to get ready to do it all over again next weekend."
 
Westmont will compete at another tournament this coming weekend in San Marcos, where they'll open up play on Friday morning against CSU Monterey Bay. Links to live coverage will be available on the Westmont Athletics website.