The Pepperdine women’s volleyball team wasted no time this past weekend defeating both Portland and Gonzaga on the road.
As tradition would have it Pepperdine has now won 28 consecutive matches against the Portland Pilots and 24 consecutive matches versus the Gonzaga Bulldogs. This past weekend proved to be no different as the Waves crushed both teams in two sweep matches.
The Waves’ first match was against the Pilots (6-22). The last time these teams met Pepperdine lost momentum after leading early and nearly gave away the match as it went into a five set nail-biter. This time was different for the dominant Waves who finished off the Pilots 30 (25-12 25-21 27-25).
It was a homecoming for Portland native middle blocker Kim Hill who ended the game with six kills and two blocks.
The game started off with the Waves in complete control leading 14-0 before the Pilots knew what happened. During the scorching run junior outside hitter Rachel Lumsden led the Waves with five kills. With Pepperdine in command of the large lead the Pilots did little to make a comeback.
However Portland began to find a groove in the third set. The Waves had a 24-19 lead deep in the third set but five straight points by the Pilots sent the game into extra points. With a 25-25 tie in the third set the Pilots’ short run came to a crashing halt as the Waves ended the match with a block by both Lumsden and senior middle blocker Cassi Chamberlain followed by a kill from senior outside hitter Julie Rubenstein.
“We executed really well this weekend said Head Coach Nina Matthies. We had great ball control and we have regained a lot of rhythm back in our game. It is a fun time for me to coach.”
Outstanding efforts came from Rubenstein who had a match-high 15 kills and posted her 10th double-double of the season with 10 digs. Lumsden recorded 13 kills.
Freshman libero Stevi Robinson added a team-best 13 digs and junior setter Kiah Fiers returned to the lineup after missing four games due to injury. She posted 33 assists helping the Waves gain a .269 hitting percentage over the Pilots’ .146.
After Portland the Waves continued north to Spokane Wash. to face the Bulldogs (10-20). Leading the Waves once again was Rubenstein who hit .500 in addition to compiling a match-high 17 kills en route to a 3-0 sweep of Gonzaga (25-18 25-13 25-14).
The Waves came out ready to play both offensively and defensively versus the Bulldogs. Pepperdine’s defense spoke for itself as it held the Zags to a .105 hitting percentage. No one on the Bulldogs had more than seven kills. Pepperdine also had a 13.5-3.0 edge in blocking.
Rubenstein’s powerful offense as well as Fiers’ 34 assists 11 digs and six kills led the unstoppable Waves. Lumsden pitched in nine kills and five digs Hill had nine kills and a season-high nine blocks and freshman outside hitter Lilla Frederick posted four kills and 10 digs.
“It was a really good weekend said sophomore libero Krista Friedman. I think it was a good confidence booster for our team especially heading into this weekend.”
The Waves now reinvigorated by three straight wins head into the final three games of the regular season. Pepperdine will need all the momentum it can get as it faces some of the country’s toughest competition this weekend.
The two final conference season games are against the WCC’s top teams both tied for first place: San Diego (tonight) and San Francisco (Saturday).