Stronger Each Game, Warriors Win Five-Set Thriller

Stronger Each Game, Warriors Win Five-Set Thriller
September 15, 2023
By Francisco Claudio
 
Volleyball is a game of momentum. 
 
The Westcliff women's volleyball team showed that yesterday in their best win of the season after coming back down a set to win it in five against the Park-Gilbert Buccaneers: 25-18, 16-25, 14-25, 25-16, 15-11.
 
"It's something we've been talking about all year," said head coach Andrew Cole about digging deep during crucial moments. "Having someone and if it's not someone, how is the group going to have that finishing mindset. Even being down 4-1 in the fifth set, that's exactly it. 
 
"And they have to learn it themselves. They have to work through it and I think they did a really good job at that."
 
The atmosphere was electrifying, fitting for a long battle between two talented teams.
 
The Warriors started off the match strong winning five of the first six points to start the first set.
 
That lead and wiggle room helped them throughout the first set as Samantha Lister set up Brooke Scheidle for the kill to put a seal on the set, 25-18.
 
But Park-Gilbert was not going away as they switched the momentum of the match by winning the second and third set.
 
The Warriors had started off that third set so well winning the first seven points, and completely dominating after losing the second.
 
But the Buccaneers made runs of their own as Westcliff was now facing an uphill battle if they wanted to walk away as the victors.
 
The Warriors started the fourth set well going up 4-1 after a kill by Abbey Beckwith.
 
It was a back-and-forth battle with the Warriors maintaining a small lead of two points.
 
Then they would go on a huge run winning nine of 11 points to go up, 18-10.
 
Both teams kept trading points but the lead that Westcliff had created was too much for the Buccaneers as Michelle Do finished the fourth with a serving ace.
 
On to the fifth, we went.
 
This time it was Park-Gilbert who started the set better, going up 4-1.
 
But the battle-proven Warriors went on a 9-2 run to shift the momentum in their favor and would win the match after a service error from the Buccaneers.
 
There were many shining stars for the Warriors including the player of the match Serena Comer who had 13 kills and eight digs.
 
Lister had another great performance with 12 kills, 19 assists, and 15 digs.
 
Beckwith scored 10 timely kills that always seemed to bring up the energy of the teammates. 
 
Ava Himstreet recorded 12 assists and 15 digs.
 
Do, the experienced veteran had 18 assists and 14 digs.
 
The Warriors come off this big battle with their second win in a row and our back in the hunt to make the Cal Pac post-season tournament.
 
They improved to an overall record of 2-3 (2-2).
 
Up next Westcliff will continue their homestand with a Friday match-up against Embry-Riddle at 7PM.