STEVEN SIWEK
Staff Writer
The Pepperdine women’s volleyball team started off its season with a smash. During the Labor Day weekend, the Waves went 3-0, defeating UNC Greensboro (25-15, 25-21, 25-15), Delaware (25-15, 25-12, 25-20) and Cal State Fullerton (25-21, 25-13, 25-18) to win the Titan Volleyball Classic in Fullerton, Calif. This is the first time the Waves have started their season 3-0 since their 2001 campaign.
“As a team, we knew we had good chemistry,” said junior setter Kiah Fiers. “Everyone felt comfortable and confident during the games.”
The Waves proved their in-game confidence by commanding every match in which they played, never losing a single set in their three victories. Head Coach Nina Matthies attested the team’s success to their “passing, defense and ball control.”
Senior outside hitter Julie Rubenstein picked up 5.1 kills per set on her way to winning Most Valuable Player honors at the tournament, and senior Cassi Chamberlain and freshman Stevi Robinson joined Rubenstein on the all-tournament team.
“It was an honor to be named tournament MVP, but it really was a team effort,” Rubenstein said. “We had a consistent group effort, and when our passing is good we can set anybody.”
The Waves’ passing game was their strength over the weekend and helped Rubenstein get 21 kills in her match against Delaware. Overall, she had 46 of Pepperdine’s 131 kills (35 percent).
Following her success in the tournament, Rubenstein was also named the West Coast Conference’s Player of the Week. She was the first to do so this season.
Rubenstein, Robinson and Chamberlain weren’t the only ones lighting up the scoreboard. Freshman Lilla Frederick came out strong for the Waves during the match against Delaware, as she contributed five kills and 11 digs. In her first career start at setter, sophomore Kealohilani Kea added 42 assists.
In the championship game against Fullerton, Rubenstein’s 21 kills kept the Waves in control, but their defense was also an asset to their success. Frederick and junior Rachel Lumsden pitched in 14 digs each during the title match.
The Waves were also excited to welcome back to the starting lineup a healthy Fiers, who missed the NCAA tournament due to a torn ACL. A former Freshman of the Year in 2006 and a member of the All-WCC first team last season, Fiers wasted no time making her presence felt, accumulating 36 assists in the tournament.
The freshman class also showed they were as good as advertised. Ranked No. 8 by Volleyball Magazine, all three newcomers were vital to the team’s success. In the first game alone, middle blocker Kim Hill and Frederick each recorded eight kills, while the third freshman and starting libero, Stevi Robinson, collected a game-high 14 digs.
Despite the excitement and success from their first weekend of play, Matthies said there is still room for growth.
“I told the girls that it’s nice we won, but let’s focus on this weekend,” Matthies said. “We need to keep working on ball control, our serving and our growth as a team.”
After last weekend’s success, the lady Waves will head north to Corvallis, Ore. to take part in the Oregon State Asics Tournament. Pepperdine is slated to face No. 17 Colorado State (3-0), Pacific (0-2) and host Oregon State (3-0) this weekend.
“These are good teams,” Matthies said. “We can’t afford to mess around.”
