Volleyball Earns National Runner-Up Title
Westmont volleyball made history during a remarkable run through the NAIA National Championship Tournament that ended with a heartbreaking loss in the nationally televised championship game. Westmont volleyball was the most successful fall sport as women's and men's soccer teams dropped matches in the National Tournament.
Women's volleyball advanced to the Final Site of the NAIA National Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa, for the fourth straight year after sweeping Point University (Ga.) in the NAIA Opening Round on Nov. 23. The Warriors began the 32-team tournament, which consists of three days of pool play, by sweeping Columbia (Mo.) 25-21, 25-21, 25-22 on Dec. 3 and losing to Jamestown (N.D.) 25-22, 22-25, 31-29, 25-19 on Dec. 4. They swept Xavier (La.) 25-21, 25-17, 25-17 on Dec. 5 to advance to the 16-team single elimination bracket. They upset No. 7 Eastern Oregon 25-22, 24-26, 25-19, 25-23 on Dec. 6, then that evening they took down a giant, No. 1 Park (Mo.), in the quarterfinals 25-14, 25-21, 25-27, 22-25, 15-13. On Dec. 7, Westmont volleyball started the day by sweeping No. 6 Viterbo of Wisconsin (35-7) to advance to their first ever national championship game. The Warriors fell to Marian (Ind.) 25-20, 25-20, 25-21 becoming National Runner-Ups. Westmont volleyball has made 12 trips to the NAIA National Tournament, placing third in the nation in 1993.
Women’s soccer defeated Marymount California, 2-0, in the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament on Nov. 23 to advance to the Final Site of the National Championship tournament in Orange Beach, Ala. They defeated the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma 2-1 on Dec. 3 to advance to the quarterfinals. The Warriors lost to No. 2 seed Keiser (Fla.) 2-1 on Dec. 4. The Warriors, who also lost in the quarterfinals in 2017, have captured National Championships in 1985, 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2003.
Men's soccer earned the number three seed in the 46-team NAIA National Championship at the Great Park in Irvine. The Warriors opened play and lost to Hastings (Neb.) on Dec. 3. Westmont has made 18 trips to the NAIA National Tournament, advancing to the NAIA Final Four in 1989 and capturing the National Championship in 1972.