Westlake Is Ruthless in Sweep

The Westlake High girls’ volleyball team was thorough, if not ruthless, in its Marmonte League opener.

The Warriors served Thousand Oaks off the court and held star middle blocker Jenn Detmer to 16 kills in a 15-8, 15-7, 15-13, victory Wednesday at Westlake.

The Warriors’ concern over Detmer was so great that assistant Coach Peter Fox played the role of Detmer during practice Tuesday. When Erika Denison bounced a spike off Fox’s face, the message was clear. Westlake was ready.

“We were pretty much prepared after that,” said Megan Mullen, who had eight kills for Westlake.

The 6-foot-2 Detmer, who accepted a scholarship to play at Stanford, says she was slowed by a head cold.

“I was pretty much out of it,” she said. “I was practically falling asleep on the floor, but I can’t let that affect me.”

Westlake had 11 aces.

“As far as service receive, we did not do a good job of communication,” Thousand Oaks Coach Robert Haar said.

The Lancers (1-1) put their heads together in the third game and took a 13-9 lead thanks to three solo blocks by Detmer and five kills by Marie Middleton, who finished with seven kills.

But Courtney Miller, who transferred from Thousand Oaks during the summer, answered with a pair of kills down the stretch for the Warriors (1-0).

“This was one of my biggest wins ever,” said Miller, who finished with 12 kills.

Last season, Westlake beat Thousand Oaks in the Marmonte League season finale with a limited offense, but a defense that dug everything in sight.

This time, the Warriors showed more balance on offense.

In addition to Miller and Mullen, Heather Hutchison had 13 kills.

The task doesn’t get easier Thursday night, when the Warriors, top-ranked in Southern Section Division II-A, play host to Royal.

Said Hutchison: “We’ll just have to start all over.”