Freshman middle blocker Libby Dahlberg produced 10 kills and sophomore outside hitter Taylor Beckman added nine more as No. 18 Westmont Volleyball defeated the Cardinals of Concordia (Mich.) in straight sets (25-11, 25-13, 25-17).
Dahlberg and Beckman committed just one attack error each, resulting in an attack percentages of .450 and .615 respectively.
Westmont (13-5) jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the first set to establish a tone for the match. The Cardinals rallied, closing to within four on a 6-3 run, but the Warriors regained control and finished off the set on a 14-4 run. The final five points came with freshman Amy Buffham at the service line.
In the second set, Concordia claimed the first three points on their way to a 5-2 lead before the Warriors scored five straight points. Concordia made it 7-6 on a kill by Erica den Boer before the Warriors put together an 18-6 run to claim the second set.
The third set was the closest of the day. With the match tied at 11 points apiece, Westmont’s Lindsay Paulo provided a kill and then combined with Dahlberg for a block to make the score 13-11 in favor of the Warriors. After a Westmont service error, Sydney Striff connected for a kill, which preceded a block by Dahlberg and Sarah McGough. That gave the Warriors a 15-12 advantage.
After a kill by the Cardinals’ Autumn VanKirk, Dahlberg delivered another kill. Dahlberg’s only attack error followed, making the score 16-14. The miscue didn’t seem to faze Dahlberg who delivered another kill on the next point to spark a 4-0 run and give Westmont a 20-14 advantage.
A solo block by Concordia’s Mackenzie Schill broke the streak. However, the Warriors closed out the match on a 5-2 run with the final point coming on another block by Dahlberg and Paulo.
As a team, the Warriors produced a .355 attack percentage, recording 45 kills. Defensively, Westmont tallied 12 team blocks. Dahlberg notched one solo block and five block assists. The Warrior’s defensive effort resulted in the Cardinals committing more attack errors (24) than kills (19), which gave Concordia a -.052 attack percentage.
