Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FULLERTON, Calif. – Day one of the Hope/Vanguard Summer Slam was a challenging one for the Lewis-Clark State Warriors as they dropped 3-0 matches to Morningside and Westmont Wednesday. The Warriors fell 25-18, 25-10, 25-15 to Morningside before a grittier effort against seventh-ranked Westmont (25-22, 25-18, 25-19).
 
Coach LaToya Harris-Alexander said first-match jitters likely played a role in the Warriors' "chaotic" first match but she was proud of the fight they displayed in the second against highly-ranked Westmont (also the Warriors).
 
"I made adjustments in my lineup," she said of the second match that not only was closer but featured long rallies that showed improved communication and attention to detail. "I wanted them to fight and get control back rather than play the other team's tempo. The fight was amazing. (Westmont) is a tough team."
 
She saw a difference in the attitude of the Warriors.
 
"They were having fun and fighting for each other," she said. "They knew they had to do that against a team like Westmont. They have to do that in every match we play."
 
Justine Cota Culp had eight kills in the match against Westmont with Lauren West providing 17 assists and Luana Thompson 13 digs. The Warriors struggled on the attack, though, with a percentage of just .063 to Westmont's .282.
 
The Warriors took the early lead in their first match of the day against Morningside. Even after their 5-1 edge disappeared, they still battled point-for-point with the Mustangs. Morningside grabbed hold of the momentum with an 11-5 run to win the first set 25-18 and take control for the rest of the match.
 
"We had a hard time flowing," Harris-Alexander said of the match against Morningside. "The game was a little chaotic. The trust wasn't as strong as I've seen it. It wasn't normal for us."
 
Morningside dominated in the final two sets as the Warriors struggled with a .110 attack percentage in comparison to the Mustangs' .408. LCSC also committed 16 errors in contrast to eight by Morningside.
 
Natalie Batiste had six kills and Rachel Gregg and Aubrey King had five each. Anna Ingraham had 10 assists with Thompson recording six digs.
 
The Warriors continue action in the Hope/Vanguard Summer Slam with an 8 a.m. match Thursday against second-ranked Dordt of Iowa before wrapping up the event with a 6 p.m. match against in-state rival College of Idaho, which is ranked 25^th in the preseason NAIA poll.