The Westmont Volleyball team fell 3-1 (30-27, 24-30, 30-25, 30-26) to #16 Cornerstone (Mich.) this afternoon in the season opener for both teams. Head Coach Jim Smoot was pleased, however, with the performance of his team. “They played better together better than I expected for this point in the season,” acknowledged Smoot. “They are a great group of women who get along very well together and their team spirit is paying off.”

Senior setter Amber Donovan recorded 65 assists in the contest. “I was very pleased with how hard our team played and how consistent we were for our first match of the season,” said Donovan. “Our team was mentally focused and ready to play. Malinda (Reese) played awesome defense and Kelsey (Voetmann) was very consistent in her hitting.”

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With the season finale played in front of a home crowd, the Warriors took time to recognize the contributions of three seniors, Bonnie Van Elderen, Jennifer Van Beek and Jeanine Manguiat.

#23 Vanguard won the match in three games (30-25, 30-24 and 30-25). Van Beek and Kelsey Voetman led the Warriors with 11 kills each while Alegra Willis had seven. Amber Donovanhad 33 assists and Malinda Reese had 24 digs.

The Warriors finish the season with a 6-21 record, 3-17 in league.

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The Warriors started their final homestand of the year by taking on #25 Biola at Murchison Gymnasium. Though the Eagles prevailed in three games, Head Coach Jim Smoot was pleased with the play and intensity of his players. A mishandled ball

In the first game, the Warriors jumped out to a 6-2 lead on the strength of kills by Kelsey Voetman and Allegra Willis. However, Biola pulled even at six and the lead see-sawed back and forth with neither team leading by more than two. After a Westmont timeout with Biola leading 29-28, Voetman drove home a kill to tie the match once more at 29. But a mishandled ball and a kill by Biola’s Katieanne Clarendon gave the Eagles the win at 31-29.

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Despite a well played game by the Warrior squad at Murchison Gymnasium, Westmont was defeated by #4 Concordia 3-1 (28-30, 30-25, 30-28, 30-20)

In the first game, the Eagles jumped out to a 6-3 lead and increased it to 19-13 before the Warriors came roaring back. Allegra Willis tied the game at 23-all with one of her match high 16 kills. A second kill by Willis put the Warriors ahead by one. Concordia tied the game at 27 and took the lead when Heidi Schlecht put the ball on the floor. But Westmont responded with another kill by Willis to tie the game at 28. An attack error by the Eagles put the Warriors ahead and Abby Pierik secured the win in game one with a service ace.

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The Warriors dropped two games this weekend losing at #15 California Baptist on Friday and at Azusa Pacific on Saturday.

Kelsey Voetman led the Warriors in kills in both contests, with 25 kills on the weekend. Amber Donovan had 39 assists in the two games.

[Cal Baptist stats] [Azusa Pacific stats]

The Warriors began the second half of GSAC competition by hosting the Mustangs of The Master’s College at Murchison Gymnasium. Unfortunately, the game ended with a 3-1 (30-28, 30-21, 28-30, 30-26) victory for the visitors.

Game one remained a close contest through 21-all when the Mustangs began to pull away on the strength of Lacey Brueggman’s serving. The Warriors nearly pulled even when Kelsey Voetman and Bonnie Van Elderen blocked a Mustang attack to make the score 26-27, but they would not get closer as The Master’s claimed a 30-28 victory in game one.

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Westmont dropped two games on the road this weekend lossing to #23 Vanguard (9-7, 6-4) on Friday and Biola (14-5, 6-4) on Saturday.

In Friday’s game, the Warriors jumped out to a one game lead by tying the first game at 26 and then scoring the next four points. Westmont led 27-25 in the second game, but the Lions of Vanguard came roaring back to win the game 32-30. Kelsey Voetman led all players with 22 kills. Amber Donovan recorded 49 assists and Malinda Reese notched 30 digs.

[Vanguard stats] [Biola stats]

Sophomore outside hitter Kelsey Voetman from Lynnwood, Washington has been named NAIA Region II and Golden State Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the week. In two Westmont conference victories, Voetman recorded a 5.17 kill per game average and a .491 hitting percentage.

In Westmont’s three game victory over Point Loma Nazarene, Voetman tallied 16 kills with no errors, along with four digs and two solo blocks. Against Christian Heritage, Voetman recorded 15 kills and two block assists in the three game sweep. Voetman has recorded 157 kills and 18 blocks on the year.