Spearfish, SD — The Westminster Griffins ended their regular season on a high note, sweeping Black Hills State University (S.D.) in three straight sets on Saturday morning. Breegan Huntsman delivered a standout performance with a game-high 12 kills, leading the Griffins to victory.
Huntsman's 12 kills were complemented by Apiline White, who added 10, and Claire Cook with 6. Mailei Myers impacted the service line, tallying 4 aces, while Huntsman added 3.
Defensive Contributions
The Griffins showcased a strong defensive effort, led by Josie Gerritsen with 16 digs, Huntsman with 15 and Leila Cornejo with 11. Myers, Hailey Killett, and White each recorded 2 blocks to stymie the Yellow Jackets' attack. Leila Cornejo directed the offense with 14 assists, while Gerritsen added 11. Alanna Lee contributed 8 assists, further supporting the balanced attack.
With Saturday's win, the Westminster Griffins have clinched a spot in the RMAC Tournament for the second consecutive season, marking the first back-to-back postseason appearances since joining the conference. Under the leadership of Head Coach Sue Dulaney, the team has steadily improved, earning a #7 seed this year—one spot higher than last season.
"We set our goals last spring to return to the tourney with a higher seed. Mission accomplished! I am very proud of the culture that's been established and the growth of the program. said Dulaney. "They've worked hard to get here and we will be ready for the quarterfinals."
In the opening round, the Griffins will face Colorado Mesa University, the tournament's #2 seed. Colorado Mesa finished the regular season with an impressive 12-2 RMAC record and will host the match in Grand Junction.
The two teams met twice this season, splitting the contests. Colorado Mesa swept the Griffins in three sets during their November 12 conference matchup, but Westminster claimed a 3-1 victory in a nonconference regional pod match in Salt Lake City on October 1.
The postseason battle is set for Grand Junction, where the Griffins will aim to advance and fans can follow all the action and find tournament updates at WestminsterGriffins.com.
