September 16, 2023
Back-to-Back Five Setters as WU Lose to Eagles
By Francisco Claudio
For the second game in a row, the Westcliff women's volleyball found themselves in a five-set battle as they fell to Embry-Riddle: 25-27, 14-25, 25-16, 25-16, 15-7.
This match will sting for a little bit after the Warriors started great going up two sets and were playing inspired from the previous match.
The first set was neck and neck as both teams made runs and dug deep when needed.
Westcliff stopped a seven-point run from Embry-Riddle and switched the momentum with a kill from Brooke Scheidle to go up 19-18.
After being tied at 25 apiece Abbey Beckwith came in clutch with a kill.
The Warriors won the next point to take the first set.
In the second set, the Eagles were on a five-point run when the Warriors put a stop to it with a 12-point run of their own to win it.
Westcliff completely shifted the momentum of the set and took it 25-14.
But the Eagles didn't back down and took the next two sets pretty comfortably to send us to a fifth.
At this point, the Warriors looked like the more tired team after having played five sets the day before.
The Warriors were celebrating a long battle on Thursday, but on Friday they were on the receiving end of another long battle.
"Asserted dominance tonight during one set," said head coach Andrew Cole. "Experiencing that is now knowing we can play like that. That experience in the second set can only help build for the season."
Samantha Lister has been solid all season and it showed again with 15 kills, 14 assists, and 12 digs.
Serena Comer had 18 digs and eight kills.
Scheidle helped with 10 kills and a game-high five blocks at the net.
Beckwith came in clutch with 13 timely kills that always seemed to bring up the energy of her teammates.
With the loss, Westcliff has an overall record of 2-4 (2-3).
They will have to muster all their strength for one more game against Benedictine-Mesa on Saturday evening.
'There is a lot to learn from this match," Cole said. "Every team wins in a different way. I want them to talk with each other and be vulnerable about the joys and frustrations they feel.
"This will bring them closer."
Saturday's game will begin at 7PM.