ROCKLIN, Calif. – On the line Saturday was a chance to do two things never done by Jessup Volleyball: beat Westmont and reach the GSAC Semifinals. The chances for both looked bleak early on, but for the second time in eight days, Jessup produced a miraculous reverse sweep, sending Warrior Arena into a frenzy.
 
On taking down Westmont for the first time in program history, a happy Tiger Shelton said postgame, "You had alumni in the stands who were dying because they wanted this. We were there my first year at Westmont, and we had them beat, but we just couldn't do it. And they remember that. This was for them. This has been going for three or four years."
 
The victory Saturday improves Jessup's already record season within the GSAC to 12-6. Jessup clinches the two-seed in the GSAC Tournament, giving them a first-round bye in next week's conference tournament.
 
Before things got started on the floor, Jessup honored their seniors with the annual Senior Day ceremony. Those playing their final match in Warrior Arena were: Marina Gonzalez, Emily Leal, Mallory Pazin, Cloe Gunter, Madison Marlow, and Taylor Tarble.
 
Westmont won the first set narrowly 25-23, taking a 1-0 lead in the match. The second set saw the visitors from Santa Barbara cruise to a 25-17 victory, putting chances of a Jessup win in jeopardy.
 
Down two, Jessup never looked frazzled in the third, taking the set 25-17.
 
On to the fourth, and looking to put the match away, Westmont went ahead 20-16. Culture is oftentimes defined through adversity, and this is where Jessup's grit was put on full display. A 5-1 run evened the match at 21. The Warriors continued this run, pushing it to 9-3 to give them the set, 25-23.
 
For the second time in Jessup's last four outings, the Warriors were on to the fifth after dropping the day's first two sets.
 
It looked bleak once again in the fifth, as Jessup went down 10-7. The comeback had been remarkable, but it looked to be not enough. But that is when the Warriors began a 5-2 run to even the score at 12-12. The two sides traded points from there on out, pushing the set past the decisive 15th point.
 
Leading 16-15, Jessup got the kill of the game from Madalyn Miller, sending the Jessup bench sprinting onto the court as the Warriors had completed the miracle comeback.
 
"We were down and never decided to quit," added Shelton. "They don't stop. They never say die. They never don't believe in themselves. Sometimes the tide turns, and when it does, they went nuts. It was very interesting to see how they did that. I cannot say enough about them."
 
The duo of Gonzalez and Miller led the way for Jessup as they finished with 18 kills each. For Gonzalez, one night after tying the program record for kills in a match, she ends the weekend with 42 kills.
 
Miller's night sets a new season high.
 
The GSAC Tournament takes place this season at OUAZ in Surprise, Ariz. Quarterfinal matches begin on Thursday, November 10. Jessup will begin their conference tournament journey on Friday.
   
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).