It was simply one of those magical nights at Murchison Gymnasium when everything went right for Westmont Volleyball (10-2, 2-0). The Warriors knew that they would face the most difficult challenge of the year so far in hosting an undefeated #5 Concordia. Up for the challenge, Westmont ended the night by celebrating a 3-1 victory (32-30, 33-31, 26-30, 31-29).

The start of the match did not look promising for the Warriors as they fell behind in game one 5-9. An attack error by the Eagles, however, brought Kathryn Obermeyer to the service line for the Warriors. Obermeyer served for the next eight Warrior points, including three aces to put Westmont in front 13-9. “My goal was to keep a consistent serve,” said the freshman. “Any ace was just a bonus.”

“Kathryn served tough serve after tough serve,” recalled Head Coach Jim Smoot. “We had to serve tough to keep them from quick setting their middle blocker. That was a major factor in the win.” The Warriors collectively recorded 16 services aces in the contest, one less than the team record.

The Eagles responded, however, with a seven point streak of their own, taking back the lead 16-13. A service ace by Malinda Reese tied the game at 18 and a seesaw battle resulted in a tie score at all but two points between 18 and 30.

A kill by Kelsey Voetmann gave Westmont a 31-30 advantage and a setting error by the Eagles gave the Warriors the win in the first game. Voetmann led the Warriors with 21 kills in the match and a .283 hitting percentage. She also recorded five service aces, and two blocks assists.

“Winning the first game gave us so much confidence to know that we can compete against this team and that we can take a game off them,” said junior outside hitter Abby Pierik. “The fact that we won 32-30 showed we could fight the whole way through and gave us what we needed.”

Westmont jumped out to a 6-1 lead in game two but allowed Concordia to tie the match at ten apiece. The Eagles managed to take a slight advantage, but Kristen De Groot (.263 hitting percentage) registered one of her 16 kills to tie the game at 18. “Kristen and Kelsey did such a great job putting the ball away,” said Pierik. “They had awesome games.”

Game two remained close but a kill by freshman Katie Sharp gave the Warriors a one point advantage at 32-31. On a serve by sophomore Malinda Reese, De Groot put the ball down on the Eagle’s side of the net to give the second game to the Warriors.

“Malinda did a great job passing the ball,” said Coach Smoot. “That let us run our offense.” Reese recorded 32 serve receptions and 27 digs in the contest.

Game three was also closely contested, but the Eagles had a slight an advantage most of the way and held on to win 30-26. “We served them easier in game three and it gave them an opportunity to run their offense,” acknowledged Smoot. “We turned that around in game four.”

Pierik started off game four with a service ace. “Abby really stepped up tonight and that is what made the difference,” asserted Smoot. Everyone played very well, but Abby raised her level of play and showed significant improvement. That was the difference in the match.”

Pierik tallied 11 kills in the match and added 28 serve receptions. “I felt really strong going into the game and gave it my all,” said Pierik. “Our goal was to come in united, play everything all out, take care of our jobs and trust each other – and I think we did it.”

Westmont jumped out to a 5-2 lead on the strength of successive kills by De Groot, Allegra Willis and Voetmann. But the Eagles put together an 8-2 rally to take a 10-7 advantage. Westmont tied the game at ten and went up by one on back-to-back service aces by Voetmann.

The battle remained tight throughout the game but the Eagles found themselves within a point (29-27) of sending the match to a fifth and deciding game. A Concordia attack error made the score 28-29 and put Voetmann on the service line. Sharp took the Warriors out of immediate danger by tying the game at 29 with a kill. Another attack error by the Eagles gave Voetmann the chance to serve for match point. Voetmann put her serve in the air and the referee immediately blew his whistle. Concordia was out of rotation, and the match was over.

Setter Amber Donovan recorded 60 assists and 13 digs. “Amber did an incredible job, not just with her setting, but also picking up the short tips,” said Pierik. The senior captain also had three service aces. Willis, also a senior captain, recorded 10 kills as middle blocker and hit for a .250 percentage. She also recorded one solo block and three assists.

“We weren’t setting Allegra enough at first,” said Smoot. “But we started setting her more and that opens up our outside hitters as well.”

“This win is a confidence builder,” assessed Smoot, “the realization that if you play at that level, you can beat anybody. There are going to be battles – every match in conference is going to be a battle. But if you play at that level and you get a few breaks, you are going to be in the game.”

Westmont will take their bolstered confidence on the road next weekend, playing at Point Loma Nazarene (7-4, 0-2) on Friday in a 7:00 p.m. game and at San Diego Christian (0-2, 0-2) at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.

[stats]