A day after Westmont volleyball head coach Jim Smoot made a significant change to the team’s defensive scheme, the Warriors (9-4) validated the coach’s choice with a 3-1 victory over non-conference opponent California Lutheran (5-5).
“I’m very please,” said Smoot about the team’s performance. “We went away from the swing block. We don’t think we were blocking the right areas and it was making it very difficult on our diggers to see what area they should move to around the block. So, we went to old school type blocking and I think that really helped. We had 78 digs in four games, that is almost 20 per game. I’m really pleased with our defense. Erin Dohm had an amazing 24 digs. Everyone’s position on the court looked better. I think it was easier for them to read around the block.”
In addition to her 24 digs, Dohm also contributed 34 serve receptions. The Warrior’s defensive improvement also led to a stronger offensive showing.
“The offense was really good,” said Smooth. “The passing was there that allowed us run our offense. Steph Dunn and Beth Widicus were on fire. I thought Kailee (Blair) and Steph were really connecting on what we call our ‘hut’ which is a fast back set.”
Dunn and Widicus each recorded 17 kills with Widicus posting a .500 attack percentage and Dunn a .433. Katey Lowry added 11 kills with a .320 attack percentage. Blair, a sophomore setter, notched 31 serve receptions.
“It is exciting to come back and win after a tough loss,” said Dunn, referring to Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to second-ranked Concordia. “I felt the girls played pretty well and were really focused. We had pretty good passing and setting tonight. A lot of girls got playing time which is really nice. It felt like a good practice.”
Westmont never trailed in the first game. Leading 12-8, the Warriors went on a four point run to double-up the Regals 16-8. California Lutheran managed to cut the lead to three (23-20) on a four-point run of their own, but it was too little, too late. A kill by Widicus and a service ace by Stacey Braceros gave Westmont a 25-20 win.
Another four-point run in the second set – including back-to-back kills by Alison Sharp (9 kills, 17 serve receptions, 11 digs) – put the Warriors ahead 12-9. The three point advantage proved to be the difference in the 25-22 second-set score.
The third set was a bit of a different story. The Regals jumped out to a 3-0 lead and then traded points with the Warriors to take a 4-1 advantage. But Westmont reeled off five points in a row to capture a 6-4 lead and start a see-saw battle between the two clubs. At 19-all, California Lutheran produced a four-point run to go up 23-19 on their way to a 25-23 win.
The fourth and final set was all Westmont. After the Warriors won the first three points, California Lutheran battled back to pull within one at 7-6. But the Warriors won 18 of the final 25 serves to claim a 25-13 win in the set and a 3-1 win in the match.
Westmont will return to Golden State Athletic Conference action on Saturday when they will travel to Fullerton to take on the Royals of Hope International. First serve is scheduled for seven o’clock.
