After defeating #13 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) in their first match at the Concordia Labor Day Tournament in Irvine, Westmont Women’s Volleyball claimed a second victory over Montana Tech. Both matches went five sets.
The Warriors took a 2-0 lead against Olivet Nazarene (3-2) with 25-15, 25-22 wins in the first two sets. But the Tigers roared back in the next two sets, winning by identical scores of 25-21. With the scored tied at six in the decisive fifth set, Olivet Nazarene scored on eight of the next 11 serves to force match point with the score 14-9.
A Tiger service error resulted in a 14-10 score and brought Westmont sophomore Stacey Braceros to the service line. The Warriors rattled off six straight points, including two service aces by Braceros, to secure the upset. Stephanie Dunn, who recorded a kill on the final point, led the Warriors with 12 kills while posting an attack percentage of .321. Three Warriors notched 11 kills – Alison Sharp, Katelyn Lowry and Sami Miller. Lowry’s kills came as a result of 22 attempts, giving her an attack percentage of .409.
In the evening match against Montana Tech (6-5), the Warriors fell behind by losing the first two sets 25-18, 25-23. But Westmont turned the tables in the third and fourth sets, winning 25-18, 25-16. In the fifth set, the Warriors jumped out to a 7-2 lead and never looked back, eventually winning 15-8.
Sharp and Beth Widicus led the team with 14 kills each while Dunn added another 10. Miller added eight more kills on 12 attempts for an attack percentage off .667. Sharp also recorded five service aces in the match.
The Warriors (6-2) next take on Great Falls (Mont.) Sunday morning at eleven o’clock and then face Oklahoma City at three. The second game will be played in Costa Mesa at Vanguard.
