(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Volleyball (20-7, 11-5 GSAC), ranked at number 12 in the NAIA National Coaches Poll, ended the regular season on a disappointing note Saturday night in Murchison Gymnasium. The Warriors fell to The Master’s in the final Golden State Athletic Conference match for both teams in four sets by scores of 18-25, 25-21, 25-51, 26-24.
The loss likely means a missed opportunity for the Warriors to receive a bye in the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament. The top 11 ranked teams receive a bye and with several teams ranked above the Warriors suffering losses in conference tournaments around the nation, the possibility of Westmont moving up at least one spot in the national poll seemed likely. The loss, however, has made that doubtful.
The Warriors looked to be in control in the opening frame, recording a .243 team attack percentage and holding the Mustangs to just .077. However, the Mustangs bolted out of the chute in the second set to post a 10-5 lead and grab momentum. The Warriors narrowed the Mustangs’ margin to 23-21, but kills by The Master’s Aubrey Pyburn and Emily Curtin ended the set and evened the match at one set apiece.
The third set was closely contested with 12 ties during the set. With the score tied at 21, however, the Mustangs reeled off four straight points to go up two sets to one.
Leading 10-8 in the fourth set, The Master’s went on an 8-0 run to take a commanding 18-8 lead. Still down 23-15, Westmont rallied with a 9-1 run to produce a 24-24 tie. The Mustangs would not be reined in, however, and finished off the upset with a kill by Morgan Koch and a service ace by Pyburn.
The Warriors will now have to wait until Monday morning at 8:00 a.m. PDT to learn if they will receive an at-large bid into the NAIA National Tournament and if so, whom they will play in the Opening Round on Saturday, November 21. Assuming they make the championship field, the Warriors are expected to be granted a home game.
