The season came to an end today for Westmont Volleyball as the Warriors lost to third-ranked Fresno Pacific (28-2, 19-1) in three sets (25-15, 25-21, 25-10). Playing in the last game of her collegiate career, Alison Sharp led the Warriors with nine points.
Sharp was honored before the game for her contributions to the Westmont Volleyball program. Sharp, who served as the team captain, ended her career with a total of 910 kills, 1598 serve receptions, 1001 digs, 95 service aces and 78 blocks. Her leadership this year was particularly vital to the Warriors as the team’s only senior and only playing upperclassman.
Fresno Pacific established control early in both the first and third sets. The only closely contested set was the second in which a tie occurred at every point from 0-0 to 12-12. The Sunbirds finally gained a two-point advantage (14-12) on a Warrior service error and a kill by Martina Gregusova (17 kills, .419 attack percentage).
Westmont was able to keep within two points until a block by Gregusova and Lisa Shilling and a service ace by Kiki Want made the score 20-16 in favor of the Sunbirds. That proved to be the margin of victory for Fresno Pacific in the second set.
The Warriors end their season with a record of 14-15 overall and 8-12 in Golden State Athletic Conference play. Westmont finished seventh in the GSAC standing behind six teams ranked in the top-25.
Fresno Pacific had already wrapped up the conference championships before today’s game at Murchison Gymnasium. #7 Biola finished tied for second with #5 California Baptist with a GSAC record of 16-4. California Baptist was the only GSAC team to beat the Sunbirds. Azusa Pacific, ranked eighth, claimed sole possession of fourth place by beating #11 Concordia today. Azusa finished with a 14-6 record while Concordia claimed fifth place with a record of 13-7. Nineteenth ranked Point Loma Nazarene, whom the Warriors split with this season, placed sixth with a 11-9 record. It is likely that all six teams who finished above the Warriors will receive a berth in the upcoming NAIA National Tournament.
With a squad consisting of one senior, one junior, four sophomores and ten freshmen, the Warriors will take a bit of time off and then begin working toward next season.
