Twenty-fifth ranked Westmont volleyball (11-5, 2-4 GSAC) had an opportunity to move up in the NAIA national rankings when they hosted #10 Point Loma Nazarene (13-3, 3-3 GSAC) on Saturday afternoon. But the Warriors had their hopes dashed in three close sets.
Senior middle blocker Katey Lowry led the Warriors with nine kills and a .316 attacking percentage. Senior right side hitter Stephanie Dunn and sophomore middle blocker Sami Miller each added seven kills. Tabitha Henken led the attack for the Sea Lions with 10 kills.
The Warriors fell behind 5-11 in the first set but scored 13 of the next 18 points to take a 18-16 lead. Point Loma responded, however, to take a 21-23 lead. Back-to-back kills by Lowry tied the game at 23-all. Then a kill by Point Loma’s Stacie Redmond gave the Sea Lions set-point before a kill by Dunn tied the set again.
Henken restored set-point to Point Loma with a kill, but when she tried to put the match away on the next rally, Dunn and Lowry closed the roof, tying the score at 25. After a Warrior service error gave Point Loma their third set-point, Miller provided a kill to tie the score at 26.
A kill by Chelsea Joanou secured the Sea Lions’ fourth set-point. Junior outside hitter Alison Sharp tried to tie the match once more, but a solo block by Redmond closed out the first set 28-26.
In the second set, the Warriors held a 12-10 lead before the Sea Lions went on a 6-0 run. The Warriors could not catch up and the Sea Lions claimed a 25-19 win in the second set.
In the third set, the Warriors fell behind 6-12 before fighting back to tie the game at 17-all. The Warriors went on to take a 23-20 lead but Point Loma scored four straight points to earn match-point. A kill from Beth
Widicus tied the game at 24, but Point Loma scored the next two points to claim the third set 26-24
