Pepperdine huddles after challenging a call against Lipscomb University on Sept. 12 at Firestone Fieldhouse. The Waves beat the Bison 3-0 for their first sweep of the season. Photos courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics
Pepperdine Women’s Indoor Volleyball defeated Lipscomb University 3-0 Sept. 12 at Firestone Fieldhouse.
Pepperdine dominated the first two sets, 25-15 and 25-13, before closing it out in a close 25-23 third set.
“The team was just dialed,” Head Coach Scott Wong said. “They were having fun. They were really connected, so there wasn’t that much we needed to reshape.”
The Waves achieved their first sweep of the season after coming off two back-to-back losses to the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Jacksonville Sept. 5-6 at the Pittsburgh Invitational.
“We just all got together, and we communicated about how we want to be on the court,” junior libero Laine Briggs said. “It’s just knowing each other, and I think throughout the weekend, we acknowledged that.”
Pepperdine’s starting lineup included Briggs, junior middle blocker Irelynd Lorenzen, sophomore outside hitter Chloe Pravednikov, freshman setter Tristen Raymond, freshman outside hitter Ryan Gilhooly and graduate middle blocker Vanessa Polk.
The first set started strong for the Waves, taking a quick 8-3 lead. Lipscomb responded to try to close the gap later in the set, 18-14.
The Waves would end on a four-point run thanks to two service aces by Briggs to close out the set 25-15.
Pravednikov ended the set with five kills to pair with Raymond’s eight assists.
“We were just all in, just battling, and there’s nothing to lose,” Briggs said. “We just go out there and have a positive attitude no matter what.”
Junior Laine Briggs attempts a serve against Lipscomb University on Sept. 12 at Firestone Fieldhouse. Briggs led the Waves with two service aces and nine digs.
The Waves carried their momentum into the second set, taking a commanding 10-3 lead before a Lipscomb timeout.
The Bison would not find an answer to the Waves’ momentum, as Pepperdine took an 18-6 lead before a Lorenzen kill closed out the set 25-13.
“We really wanted to work as one because sometimes it can feel like we’re individuals out there,” Pravednikov said. “It’s so important to come together and cheer for every point.”
Lipscomb would find their groove in the third set, taking an early 8-5 lead, before Pepperdine scored seven points midway through the set to take a 12-9 lead.
The Bison fought back, scoring six of the next seven to take a 15-13 lead thanks to senior outside hitter Courtney Jones, who recorded a kill and two service aces.
The Waves and Bison battled back and forth for the rest of the set before Pepperdine closed it out 25-23 with three straight points, including two kills from Pravednikov.
“[The team] was focused and concentrated the whole time,” Wong said. “They had a ton of confidence in each other towards the end of the stretch too.”
Sophomore outside hitter Chloe Pravednikov celebrates a point against Lipscomb University on Sept. 12 at Firestone Fieldhouse. Pravednikov leads the Waves in kills with 71 on the season.
The Waves minimized mistakes on offense while capitalizing on Lipscomb’s errors, having only 11 attack errors in the match compared to the Bison’s 18.
Pepperdine also outperformed the Bison in hit percentage, succeeding on .379 of their attacks compared to Lipscomb’s .090.
“We’ve got to keep on moving just game by game,” Briggs said. “We’re really focused on the next game and staying focused in the present during it.”
Briggs led the Waves with nine digs, followed by junior setter Brynne McGhie, Raymond and Gilhooly all with four.
Pravednikov led the team in kills with 10 on a .412 hitting percentage, followed by Polk with seven on a .545 hitting percentage.
“’One heartbeat’ has been our quote,” Pravednikov said. “So we’re just gonna keep pushing through that, and whenever we’re all engaged together, I think it’ll be a good match.”
Freshman setter Tristen Raymond sets the ball for a Waves’ attack against Lipscomb University on Sept. 12 at Firestone Fieldhouse. Raymond led the team with 20 assists, followed by junior setter Brynne McGhie with 10.
The Waves ended the match with 36 kills, 34 assists, 10 blocks and 29 digs compared to the Bison’s 25 kills, 25 assists, 11 blocks and 18 digs.
“We got a lot of firepower,” Wong said. “We got to keep on getting better at volleyball, and we’re a little spotty here and there, and it’s something that is pretty easy to train.”
The Waves now hold a 4-3 record on the season and will have four more non-conference matches before entering West Coast Conference play. The Waves’ next match is against the Grand Canyon University on Sept. 18 at the Global Credit Union Arena.
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Contact Shane Stephens via email: shane.stephens@pepperdine.edu
