Box Score
Westminster battled unbeaten Southern Nazarene through four competitive sets Friday at the Denton Volleyfest, falling 3-1 (25-20, 24-26, 25-23, 26-24).
Game Breakdown
Set 1
Southern Nazarene grabbed an early edge and never fully relinquished it, closing out the opener 25-20. Westminster stayed within striking distance throughout, getting kills from Claire Cook, Jocelyn Grieser and Kyra Mahler along the way. Nora Elliot added a service ace, and the Griffins hit .273 as a team in the set.
Set 2
Westminster's best set of the match saw the Griffins claw back and even the match at one apiece with a 26-24 win. Claire Cook was especially efficient, hitting .571 in the set, while Apiline White and Clara Philipsson added timely kills down the stretch. Tiia Heikkinen dished out 9 assists in the set, and the Griffins as a team out-hit Southern Nazarene .234 to .196 to force the split.
Set 3
The two sides traded points deep into the frame before Southern Nazarene pulled away late for a 25-23 win. Elsa Gilmore added three kills for Westminster, and Jocelyn Grieser was efficient at the net, hitting .667 in the set. Cook again led the attack with five kills.
Set 4
Westminster pushed the fourth set to the wire, trading the lead multiple times in the final stretch before Southern Nazarene closed it out 26-24 to clinch the match. Cook led the way with six kills in the set, Elsa Gilmore added three more, and Ava Livolsi turned in a set-high 9 digs defensively as Westminster tried to force a fifth set.
Griffin Performances
As a team, Westminster totaled 59 kills, 80 digs, 8 service aces and 6.0 total blocks in the four-set battle.
Up Next
The Griffs will face #15 ranked Central Oklahoma.Â
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