After sweeping all three opponents at the William Jessup Tournament on Friday and Saturday, NAIA ninth-ranked Westmont volleyball is off to the best start in program history with an 11-1 record.
“Looking at the teams that we have played, that is a really good start,” said Patti Cook, the Warriors’ head coach.”
The performance at the Jessup Tournament came despite a vehicle breakdown in Stockton on the way to the tournament.
“(Senior setter) Candice Adema’s parents had driven up to Stockton to meet us for dinner,” reported Cook. “They were going to let us use their car, but instead, three of the players stayed at their house. They have been driving the players up to Rocklin each day. Their help was greatly appreciated.”
“I was telling the team that we had an excuse to not do well that first game,” said Cook. “I said that we need to put that excuse aside and focus on the task at hand and not focus on what the other side is doing initially, but to focus on our chemistry.”
The strategy paid off as the Warriors defeated Daemen (N.Y.) on Friday 26-26, 25-16, 25-16. Madison Serrano tallied 11 kills and 11 digs in the initial match while Tessa Martin posted seven kills and 8 digs.
“The players have been excellent at making small adjustments mid-match,” said Cook. “We get stronger as the game goes on. That is something that is unique to this team. We start understanding what the other team is doing and really taking advantage of that.”
In the first match on Saturday, Westmont knocked off Simpson 25-17, 25-14, 25-14. Right side hitter Nichole Miller and middle blocker Ciara Turner combined for 17 kills on 23 attempts without a single error. Miller, who had nine of the kills, posted a .818 attack percentage while Turner’s average was .667.
Over the course of the three matches, Turner went 25 for 39 with 3 errors for a three-match attack percentage of .564.
“Nichole did a great job on the right side and stayed real steady,” said Cook. “No one could stop Ciara.”
In the final match, the Warriors took on Menlo for the second time this season, winning 25-12, 25-17, 25-16. Turner’s 11 kills led the match with Serrano adding another 10.
Westmont will continue its non-conference season on Tuesday taking its stellar record to Thousand Oaks to take on California Lutheran.
