Pepperdine Graphic

Women’s Beach Volleyball Wrap Up Malibu Invite During Spring Break

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Senior Kristine Briede and junior Madison Oriskovich embrace after securing a point against Arizona on Mar. 2, at the Marie Canyon Courts. This Waves duo would win two of their three matches across the tournament, falling only to Arizona in a close affair. Photos courtesy of Sarah Otteman
Senior Kristine Briede and junior Madison Oriskovich embrace after securing a point against Arizona on Mar. 2, at the Marie Canyon Courts. This Waves duo would win two of their three matches across the tournament, falling only to Arizona in a close affair. Photos courtesy of Sarah Otteman

After finishing the Pepperdine Challenge with a 1-1 record, Women’s Beach Volleyball took on a three-game set at the Marie Canyon Courts for the Malibu Invite.

Pepperdine Beach Volleyball (2-3) opened the tournament with a 4-1 loss against Boise State (7-3) on Mar. 1. The Waves bounced back swiftly with a dominant 5-0 sweep over San Francisco (2-5) that same day.

Freshman Keydon Meyers smiles at senior Gracie Pedersen as they celebrate a point over Arizona on Mar. 2, at the Marie Canyon Courts. On the first day of play, Pedersen took the court with graduate student Aubrey Roberts, while Meyers played with sophomore Gabriella Perez, each going 1-1 with their respective duos.
Freshman Keydon Meyers smiles at senior Gracie Pedersen as they celebrate a point over Arizona on Mar. 2, at the Marie Canyon Courts. On the first day of play, Pedersen took the court with graduate student Aubrey Roberts, while Meyers played with sophomore Gabriella Perez, each going 1-1 with their respective duos.

The Waves would see action the following day, Mar. 2, with a hard-fought 3-2 loss against Arizona (2-5). Beach Volleyball wrapped up the break by dropping two of the three games, falling to 2-3 on the season overall.

Pepperdine had a slow start to the tournament, suffering a loss in the first two sets in their match against Boise State — they were unable to recover and surrendered a convincing loss. Junior Madison Oriskovich and senior Kristine Briede secured the team’s only points, winning 26-24 and 23-21.

Freshman Maya McNabney spikes the ball over the net in an exhibition match against Arizona on Mar. 2, at the Marie Canyon Courts. McNabney, alongside freshman Lauren Cook, split the exhibition with the Wildcats 1-1.
Freshman Maya McNabney spikes the ball over the net in an exhibition match against Arizona on Mar. 2, at the Marie Canyon Courts. McNabney, alongside freshman Lauren Cook, split the exhibition with the Wildcats 1-1.

However, the Waves were just getting warmed up and followed the loss with a sweep over San Francisco. The closest set was the final set of this match, as sophomore Emi Erickson and freshman Maya McNabney completed the sweep, winning 22-20 and 21-18.

The momentum continued into Mar. 2, with juniors McKenna Thomas and Kate Clermont taking the opening set against Arizona 21-14 and 21-16. The momentum quickly came crashing down, as Arizona fought back taking the following three sets of the match triumphing over Pepperdine 3-2.

Briede and Oriskovich walk off the court with Head Coach Marcio Sicoli after a match with Arizona on Mar. 2, at the Marie Canyon Courts. The duo won the only set over Boise State on the first day of play.
Briede and Oriskovich walk off the court with Head Coach Marcio Sicoli after a match with Arizona on Mar. 2, at the Marie Canyon Courts. The duo won the only set over Boise State on the first day of play.

“The team battled and had chances to come out on top,” Head Coach Marcio Sicoli wrote in a March 5 text to the Graphic. “We came short of winning, but we matured as a team and we are ready for this coming week in Hawaii!”

The Waves board a flight to Hawai’i to compete in the Queen’s Cup on Mar. 7-9, opening with a match against Chaminade scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. start time. The Waves will compete in five matches total, and it will be the first time they battle in a road match this season.

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Contact Justin Rodriguez via email: justin.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu