September 9, 2023

Warriors Give Bobcats a Tough Time, Set Eyes on PUC

Video Box Score
By Francisco Claudio
 
The Westcliff women's volleyball team continued their NorCal road trip as they visited the UC Merced Bobcats on Friday evening. 
 
The Warriors battled hard and extended the match but eventually fell in a tight fourth set 25-20, 23-25, 25-19, 27-25.
 
Westcliff is still searching for their first win of the season but with every match, there is a noticeable improvement and the attitude within the team is strong. 
 
The Warriors made another late run in the first set after being down by eight points in the beginning.
 
A block from Dana Manu and Abbey Beckwith brought the Warriors to within three points of the Bobcats, 23-20.
 
UC Merced made no mistakes after that point and took the first set.
 
But Westcliff found something during the latter parts of the first set and carried that momentum over to the second.
 
The second set was even more competitive and the Warriors were able to stay ahead of the Bobcats by a margin of two to three points for the majority.
 
After an assist from Michelle Do and a kill from Manu, Westcliff had tied up one set apiece.
 
Head Coach Andrew Cole stressed the importance of starting strong and getting ahead in the score: "The offense is showing up more.  As we begin to dictate the flow of a match, instincts to close a set will take over. Very disciplined play with a low amount of unforced errors. Our team play has been progressive."
 
The manner in which the team fought back to take the second set is important and something that will be emphasized.
 
"Prioritization," Cole said. "We take information from the scout. When we see the benefits of that information in real time we need to trust the patterns both coach and players are noticing.  
 
"It is naturally difficult as we have to ensure instincts align with the specific situational information."
 
Westcliff was up for most of the third set but then UC Merced dug deep and won five of the last six points to take it.
 
The fourth set was a battle in which both teams made good runs to pull ahead at different times. 
 
The Bobcats had a five-point run in the middle of the set to increase their lead, but the Warriors came back strong with multiple three-point runs throughout the set.
 
Westcliff had set point at 25-24, but they weren't able to close it out after some good defending for the Bobcats.
 
One of the highlights from this match will be Do passing 1000 assists as a Warrior.
 
No one is close to reaching her record so this season Do will be able to separate herself into the category of Warrior royalty in assists.
 
Beckwith led the Warriors in kills with 11 and Manu was right behind with 10.
 
Do had 19 assists and 19 digs for another solid performance from the veteran.
 
Ava Himstreet had a strong game leading the way with 22 digs and five assists.
 
"Our approach is consistent and every match will create a new assessment of what is coming at us," Cole said.  "We talk a lot about acknowledging what the opponent brings and then what is our response.  
 
"There is a lot of skill with this team as many of them are beach players. Now, coordinating time and space with attacking is getting our primary attention, and serving and receiving is getting secondary attention."
 
Up next: The Warriors will finish off this trip against Pacific Union College on Saturday with a start time of 9:00PM.
 
Westcliff is 0-2 in conference play and will search for their first win against the Pioneers whom they swept last season, not dropping a single set.