By Jacob Norling
October 10, 2025
 
(IRVINE, Calif.) Westmont Volleyball (7-8, 2-2 PacWest) had won its first two PacWest matches, but the Warriors' now-three match losing streak has dropped the team to .500 in conference play. Westmont defeated Concordia (7-8, 1-4) in a non-conference match earlier this season, but on the night it mattered most, the Golden Eagles swept the Warriors to snap their own seven match losing streak.
 
"Not the result that we'd hoped for," said Westmont head coach Ruth McGolpin. "We battled in sets two and three, but unfortunately, there was not a lot of passion out there."
 
Westmont lost the first set 25-20, but it was the 26-24 loss in set two and the 30-28 loss in the third that will make it tough to sleep tonight for the road team. Once the first entered double-digits Westmont never so much as tied the game, but in set two, the Warriors led 14-11 after a three-point swing. Six kills in a 10-point span, however, allowed Concordia to flip game two on its ear with a 10-2 run (21-16).
 
Still, Westmont would score seven of the match's next nine points, the Warriors to tie the set at 23 all. After a CU kill, a kill from Audrey Hyde fought off set point. Then, a service error and an attacking error from the Warriors spelled doom to give Concordia a 26-24 win.
 
Set three looked to be a laugher early on, as Westmont stared up at a 12-5 deficit. Westmont clawed back to make it a one-point deficit at 15-14, only to see Concordia regain a large advantage at 21-16. In resilient fashion, however, a pair of kills from Maddie Finnegan book-ended a five-point run that temporarily tied the game at 21.
 
In the next handful of minutes, however, Westmont would be unable to seal the deal. The Warriors had set point at 24-23, 26-25, and 28-27. The Warriors also fought off match point at 25-24, and 27-26. In the end, however, after leading 28-27, Westmont would commit a pair of attacking errors and allow one more kill in a stomach-churning 30-28 loss to lose the match.
 
"We had opportunities," acknowledged McGolpin, "but it's the mental side of the game. You have to find a way to win these games. Credit to Concordia, they've had a tough season. Unfortunately, this one counted, and the one we played at home didn't."
 
On an individual note, Maddie Finnegan led Westmont with 11 kills, while Audrey Hyde added nine. Hyde also led Westmont with six blocks, while Rylee Elias led with 16 digs, and Sierra McClure led with 20 assists.
 
"Audrey Hyde played well," said McGolpin, "She was fiery, and did a great job blocking and great job attacking. Maddie was tough in the back row, and Alyson Wurster came in and did a great job as the DS."
 
Westmont has another match that will count against its PacWest standing on Saturday at 2 p.m., when they take on Point Loma down in San Diego.