Twenty-fifth ranked Westmont Volleyball took to the road on Tuesday to take on second-ranked Concordia in Irvine. After winning the first set 25-23, the Warriors dropped the next three 25-11, 25-23, 25-14.
Down 15-9 in the first set, the Warriors battled back to within two points at 21-19. Senior outside hitter Beth Widicus, produced one of her team-leading 11 kills to narrow the gap to 21-20. Then a ball handling error by the Eagles tied the set at 21-all.
The Warriors then took control of the net, producing blocks first by Alison Sharp and Stephanie Dunn and then by Sharp and Katey Lowry. After an Eagles’ timeout, Westmont earned set point (24-21) on an attack error by Concordia’s Amber Ridens (9 kills).
Concordia’s Stephanie Darnall added a kill and Sharp was charged with an attack error to move the Eagles to within one (24-23). Sharp redeemed herself with a kill to give Westmont the first set victory.
The second set belonged to the Eagles from the start after they jumped out to a 10-5 lead and did not allow the Warriors to close the gap.
In the third set, Westmont recorded three kills in a row by Sami Miller, Sharp and Jenise DeBie to take a 12-10 lead. After the Warriors stretched the lead to 16-13, the Eagles rallied to tie the score at 16-all. A kill by Lowry briefly restored the lead to the Warriors, but the Eagles scored the next three. The Warriors tied the game at 19 with back-to-back kills by Sharp, but could not regain the lead. With the score tied at 23, kills by Serrina Russo (8 kills) and Cassie Ells (10 kills) gave the Eagles the win.
However, Concordia controlled the fourth set, jumping out to a 6-2 lead. Westmont pulled to within two points at 9-7, but then gave up seven of the next nine points to fall behind 16-9.
Sharp posted nine kills for the Warriors while Lowry and Miller each tallied eight. DeBie contributed six more kills to the Warrior cause. Sophomore setter Kailee Blair recorded 20 assists while senior libero Erin Dohm led Westmont with 15 digs.
The Warriors return to action on Thursday when they host California Lutheran in a non-conference match. First serve is scheduled for seven o’clock in Murchison Gymnasium.
