ROCKLIN, Calif. - The Warriors faced their second ranked opponent in the same number of days as they took on No. 17 in the country Westmont College in a battle of the Warriors Saturday afternoon. Despite some long sets, the home Warriors were unable to steal a set from Westmont resulting in a defeat (20-25, 21-25, 20-25).

"Westmont is a talented, experienced, and well-coached team. We knew we would need to be prepared to battle today," head coach for the Warriors Shasta Millhollin commented on today's matchup. "Although we did not get the outcome we wanted, we did a nice job defensively and played incredibly hard all match long."

Jessup would prove to be slow out the gate as a Warrior timeout from Millhollin would be called as Westmont held the 6-0 advantage in the opening set. Westmont would go on to tack on two more points before the Warriors would hit the board on a Westmont error.

Leading by as much as 9, Jessup would come alive sparked by a kill from senior Mackenzie Reeder-Esparza and continued by an ace delivered by Alicia Borges as Jessup went on a 5-0 run to come within three. Freshman Ashanti Grayer would keep the home Warriors alive as just trailed 24-20, but a quick kill was returned by Westmont to take the set. 

The second set would favor Jessup with a 3-0 lead before Westmont doubled that run and one to take the 7-3 advantage before an error would give the serve back to Jessup. The score would bounce back-and-forth in favor midway through the set as Jessup went on a late run holding Westmont at 19 as they came within two. Another outstanding kill from Reeder-Esparza and a block by her and Taylor Tarble would make it 20-19  Westmont, but a quick pair of runs for the visiting team would reign victorious for the second set, 25-21.

Once again Westmont would go up by as much as 10-4 before a Warrior spark would ignite and they would get within three points as Jasmine Pinone and Michaela Zapata had back-to-back kills to make it 13-10.  Possession would continue to exchange throughout the set as Zapata would come through again late in the set with another big kill making it a one-point match, 20-19 Westmont lead. But a 4-0 run would get Westmont to the game point as leading kills for Westmont, Brooklynn Cheney put the icing on the cake for the 25-20 win and 3-0 match. 

Jessup was led offensively by junior middle, Vendela Williams with 8 kills, followed by teammates Reeder-Esparza (6) and Pinon (5). Borges would continue her dominance from the service line with 4 aces, while Brianne Whitt led in assists with 14 respectively.

The Warriors will return to Horton Court for their final game of the season against Norcal rival, Menlo College next Saturday for senior day starting at 4 pm.

  William Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on William Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: William Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat).