GARRETT WAIT
Sports Editor
Nothing has exemplified the Pepperdine women’s volleyball team’s season quite like the three-game homestand the Waves completed Tuesday night. The ups and downs of an entire season were present as Pepperdine went 2-1 to finish its home schedule.
The Waves took their two matches Friday and Saturday, the first a five-set nail-biter against Saint Mary’s College, the second a relatively easy sweep of University of San Francisco. The team seemed to be on its way to a third win on its home court Tuesday night with a 13-9 lead in the fifth game against UCLA. The Bruins stormed back, however, and stunned the Waves, taking the decisive fifth game 17-15.
Freshman outside hitter Julie Rubenstein recorded a career-high 25 kills in the match, but said the loss was tough to swallow.
“It was brutal, especially because we were up 13-9,” Rubenstein said. “I almost feel like we won because we were up by so much. Losing such a tough match was not a good feeling.”
The Waves nearly pulled off the upset before the stunning comeback, as senior Katy Daly notched 24 kills in her last game at Firestone Fieldhouse.
Junior Sophia Milo chipped in with 11 kills as the Waves hit .209 as a team. The Bruins won the match, 26-30, 30-16, 22-30, 30-25, 17-15.
Rubenstein said the loss wouldn’t affect her as the Waves proceed to finish their schedule.
“For me, losing such a tough match gives me fire to play even better and harder to make up for that loss,” Rubenstein said.
The two weekend matches showcased the Waves’ abilities as they stepped up to beat both Saint Mary’s and San Francisco.
Against the Gaels, Daly led the team with 20 kills, as four Waves earned double-digit kill totals. Daly led the team despite being temporarily taken out of the game after injuring her head diving for a ball. Sophomore middle blocker Lecca Roberts recorded 15 kills as Milo and Rubenstein each added 13 kills. Pepperdine won the match 27-30, 31-29, 30-25, 25-30, 15-13.
On Saturday, the Waves hosted USF for senior night, when the three seniors, Daly, Breegan Mulligan and Missy Mehlhorn were all honored for their outstanding careers at Pepperdine. Their teammates stepped up for them on the court, demolishing the Dons 30-12, 30-21, 30-27.
Daly led the team in kills for the second straight night, hammering home 15 and recording 14 digs. She was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Week after the back-to-back performances. Milo was the only other Wave with double-digits in kills, slamming 11 in the win.
Rubenstein said the 2-1 weekend was successful, overall.
“We lost to UCLA, but we played one of the best matches we’ve played,” Rubenstein said. “It was a really good weekend.”
Pepperdine’s last three regular season games are on the road, as the Waves look to get into the conference tournament. The team goes to Loyola Marymount University on Friday looking to sweep the season series from the Lions.
Rubenstein said the team is looking to get it done in practice so they can get it done during matches.
“We’re just working hard because we need to win these next three matches to play in the tournament,” Rubenstein said. “We’re going to go all out and play hard these next few matches.”
11-10-2005
