Comets face challenge and remain unbeaten

Westlake is swept in three games, but each set could have gone either

Amherst continued its dominance of the Southwestern Conference with a 3-0 win against visiting Westlake Sept. 19.

Despite the sweep, the teams were, according to both coaches, very evenly matched, and with scores of 25-20, 25-22 and 26-24, Amherst coach Laurie Cogan thought the match could have easily gone to Westlake.

“The scores showed both teams played at about the same (level), just, in my opinion, in each set we caught a couple breaks,” Cogan said.

“We stole some points.

“When you’re looking at 2624, 25-22, that’s pretty evenly matched sets, and in my opinion, those types of sets, the outcome could ultimately have gone in either direction.”

The Demons were the first team all season to give Amherst real trouble at the net, especially junior Leah Schmidt, who proved difficult for the Comets to stop as she finished with 14 kills.

“(Westlake) is an outstanding team,” Cogan said. “They’ve got all the pieces

and parts. It’s probably the tallest team at the net that we have played thus far. They’re a nice team. They’re a very nice team.”

At 7-2 in the tough SWC, Westlake coach Meghan Spriggs knows her team is right on the cusp of going from good to great, and though the loss to Amherst was disappointing, she was generally pleased with the effort put forth by her team.

“We stayed strong the whole match,” Spriggs said. “Obviously, as always, there’s things that we can work on, but for the most part I thought we played methodically.

“(We) took big swings when we were supposed to. I thought Jackie Moracz, our libero, played phenomenal defense.

Leah Schmidt, lights out all night. It was just not enough, but we’re right there, which is the exciting part.”

Moracz finished with 20 digs for Westlake (8-5, 7-2) while setter Malorie Hurd had 28 assists.

Tory Small led Amherst (13-0, 10-0) with 10 kills, Sarah Farley added seven kills and three blocks, London Voss had 32 assists and libero Audrey McConihe had 28 digs.

Amherst hosts Lakewood Sept. 21 while Westlake travels to Berea-Midpark.

RANDY MEYERS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Westlake’s Leah Schmidt taps the ball past Tory Small and Faith Rico of Amherst during the second set.

RANDY MEYERS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Sarah Farley, left, and Sarah Weigand of Amherst block the spike attempt by Audrey Lyle of Westlake during the second set.

RANDY MEYERS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Tory Small of Amherst taps the ball over Sylvie Yappel of Westlake for point during the second set.