SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Heading down to Southern California for a back-to-back slate of matches, Jessup Volleyball lost to RV Westmont College in a tough four set match. The Warriors now have a 4-9 record overall and their GSAC record stands at 3-3.
 
Head coach Tiger Shelton noted that, "We showed our perseverance and came back in that third set. We played a great game and were right there with them."
 
Opening the match up, the Warriors were playing with a fast pace as they led 3-0 in the blink of an eye. Westmont, however, wasn't going away quietly as they began a comeback. Initially, the Warriors stopped the first run by Westmont with a key block by Preslee Nunez and Madalyn Miller. The block gave Jessup a 12-8 advantage.
 
Westmont was able to rebound nicely as they pushed ahead, leading by three. Now with Jessup on the wrong end of things, they made a late push and a kill by Mary Padilla tied the set at 20-20. Unfortunately for Jessup, they were unable to hang on, losing 21-25 to start the match.
 
The second set was all Westmont as Jessup trailed 1-7 out of the gate. Keeping the match interesting, Jessup was able to get within two points, trailing 10-12 after a Taylor MacCuish kill. In the end, Jessup was kept at bay as they lost the set, 15-25.
 
Gearing up for set three, both teams were locked in at the start. At the midway point of the set, Jessup was able to score five consecutive points, tying the set at 16-16 and forced a Westmont timeout.
 
The momentum was palpable as Jessup regained the lead, 18-17. A second timeout was needed by Westmont as MacCuish and Taylor Tarble teamed up for a key block putting Jessup up 21-19. Four of the final five points were scored by the Warriors as they claimed a set-three win 25-21.
 
Jessup began the fourth set with the lead, 5-3, as Cloe Gunter made a brilliant diving effort and the play was finished off with big-time block by Tarble. Later in the set on the offensive attack, Gunter again made a great play getting a kill putting the Warriors up 15-12.
 
As the fourth-set lingered on, Jessup's lead began to dwindle as Westmont fought their way back. Taylor Dilley registered a kill followed by an ace tying the set at 21-21 but it was Westmont who scored the final four points.
 
The 21-25 loss in set four ended things for Jessup as they'll look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon as they play The Master's University at 2 PM.
 
Shelton ended by saying, "There were key elements to our game that were a little off, but tomorrow we are looking forward to bouncing back and playing a great game against The Master's."
 
On the night, Dilley led the Warriors with 14 kills and also ended with 17 digs. Mary Padilla ended with 13 kills and posted a team-high 21 digs. Mallory Pazin showed great passing as she finished with 17 assists and Ella Hartford was in double-figures with 11.
 
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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 and Instagram).