Pepperdine-UC Riverside Box Score 
MALIBU, Calif. - The #19 Pepperdine women's volleyball team claimed the title of its own Pepperdine Asics Classic on Sunday after persevering through a 25-22, 25-22, 26-24 win over UC Riverside in Firestone Fieldhouse.
The Waves (7-2) needed some help to earn the title, however. After Army upset Pepperdine on Saturday night, the Black Knights could have won the championship with a victory on Sunday morning. Instead, Army was swept by Seattle. After the Waves' victory over UCR, that gave 2-1 records to Pepperdine, Army and Seattle. The Waves won the first tiebreaker, the head-to-head set record among the tied teams.
Pepperdine sophomore libero Stevi Robinson (Hermosa Beach, Calif./Mira Costa HS), the tournament MVP, was a key figure in a defensive struggle against the Highlanders today. She had a match-high 18 digs as the Highlanders were held to an .087 hitting percentage. Pepperdine didn't fare much better, hitting .112 for the match.
Sophomore outside hitter Lilla Frederick (Huntington Beach, Calif./Cornelia Connelly HS) had a team-high seven kills. Sophomore opposite Kristen Seaton (Terre Haute, Ind./South Vigo HS), an all-tournament team member, had six kills and six blocks.
UCR (1-8) got 10 kills and 10 digs from Dominique Cowling and nine kills and six blocks from Bianca Endersby.
"This is our third weekend of matches and our second week of school," said Pepperdine Coach Nina Matthies, who claimed career win #501 today. "We've played a lot of matches and we have three more big matches this week. But our focus and our concentration this weekend were not where they need to be. We have some things to work on and shore up this week at practice. We need to get better."
The Waves had to shake off a slow start as the Highlanders jumped out to leads of 3-0 and 9-3 in the first set. At that point, however, Pepperdine went on an 8-1 run that included four UCR attack errors and service aces by Robinson and Seaton. That gave Pepperdine its first lead at 11-10, and the score stayed close over the next 20 points. UC Riverside led at 21-20 when the Waves reeled off four straight points. A service error tied it up, followed by a kill by Frederick, a UCR attack error and a service ace by freshman outside hitter Caitlin Racich (Santa Barbara, Calif./Dos Pueblos HS). After a UCR point, a Highlander attack error ended the first set. Despite hitting only .097 and not having anyone with more than two kills, the Waves eked out the victory as UCR hit just .091.
Freshman middle blocker Victoria Adelhelm (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Santa Fe Christian HS) had two kills and a block assist to help Pepperdine get out to a 7-1 lead in the second set. The lead grew to as many as seven points, first at 13-6 after a block by Frederick and sophomore middle blocker Kim Hill (Portland, Ore./Portland Christian HS). UCR closed the gap and pulled to within two points at 20-18, but could get no closer. Kills by Frederick gave the Waves their final two points of the set. Hitting percentages were still low, with UCR having an .023-.022 edge.
The Highlanders had several chances to win the third set, as Pepperdine trailed 24-21 but fought off three match points and scored the final five points of the set to end the match. Frederick posted two kills to make it 24-23, and then Seaton and freshman Brittney Clark (San Jose, Calif./Presentation HS) combined to record blocks on the next three plays to tie the match, put Pepperdine ahead and finally end the match. The Waves finally got their hitting up to a respectable .267 in the third set, while UCR was up to .179.
The Waves have their biggest non-conference week of the season ahead, as they host #8 UCLA on Wednesday (Sept. 16) in Firestone Fieldhouse at 7 p.m., and then travel to #6 Hawaii for two matches on Friday and Saturday (Sept. 18-19).
Final Standings: 1. Pepperdine (2-1), 2. Seattle (2-1), 3. Army (2-1), 4. UC Riverside (0-3). Tiebreaker (head-to-head set record among tied teams): Pepperdine 5-3, Seattle 3-3, Army 3-5.
Tournament MVP: Stevi Robinson, Pepperdine.
All-Tournament Team: Kristen Seaton, Pepperdine; Cristin Richards, Seattle; Jamie Mellies, Seattle; Rachel Dunn, Army; Maureen Bannon, Army; Bianca Endersby, UC Riverside
