The Pepperdine Women’s Indoor Volleyball team traveled to the University of San Diego for a West Coast Conference rivalry matchup Nov. 9 in the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Despite battling early, the visiting Waves suffered a 3-1 loss to the Toreros.
This game seemed a little reminiscent of last year when Pepperdine took down USD in the WCC title-clinching match last year, according to previous Graphic reporting. This time around, the teams were close again, as the Waves had a 9-2 WCC record and the Toreros had an 8-3 WCC record entering this contest, both tied for second place in conference.
San Diego proved dominant early, leading by as much as seven points in the first set. Pepperdine fought, keeping the score within two at 18-16 when freshman middle blocker Ella Piskorz got an ace.
Kills from Birdie Hendrickson, graduate outside hitter and opposite, and middle blocker Kenadie Patterson put the Waves in front 24-23. However, the Toreros kept the momentum up and went on a 3-0 run to take the first set 26-24.
Sophomore setter Brynne McGhie got the visitors going in the second set, as she got her second kill of the night to spark a 3-0 run for the Waves. Hendrickson got five kills in this set alongside Grace Chillingworth, senior outside hitter and opposite, who tallied six kills, according to Pepperdine Athletics.
Pepperdine ran away with set two, cruising to a 25-21 win while never trailing. But, the home team wasn’t done fighting.
USD exploded to start set three, going on an early 5-0 run that set the tone for the set. The Toreros dominated the third set in a 25-16 win.
Now leading 2-1, San Diego went into set four looking to win. The set stayed tight, as USD was only up 7-6 when Piskorz got another kill to start a fire under Pepperdine’s feet.
The Waves went on a 5-0 run backed by two points from Chillingworth, who finished with 18 kills, two aces and three blocks. The home team responded with a 5-0 run of their own to tie the score at 15 each.
Chillingworth’s final kill set up a match point for Pepperdine, but the visitors couldn’t seal the deal. The Toreros went on a 3-0 run to take the set and the match.
Freshman outside hitter Isabel Clark led all players with 24 kills for San Diego. Hendrickson had 18 kills of her own for the Waves paired with an ace.
Pepperdine plays again Nov. 14, against Santa Clara where they will honor their seniors and distribute WCC Champion Rally Towels to the first 100 fans.
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