Miami Edges Pepperdine in Asics Classic Finale

Sept. 3, 2011

MALIBU, Calif. - A valiant effort by the Pepperdine women's volleyball team fell short in a 3-1 (18-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-23) loss to Miami. The Waves (3-2) finished in second place at the Asics Classic, while Kellie Woolever and Lilla Frederick were named to the all-tournament team.

Both sides finished with solid numbers, led by Alex Johnson's 21 kills and Michaela Christiaansen's (Tucson, Ariz./Ironwood Ridge HS) career-high 27 digs.

Frederick (Huntington Beach, Calif./Cornelia Connelly HS) delivered another stand-out performance, leading the Waves with 17 kills, 16 digs, three blocks and three aces. Woolever (Long Beach, Calif./Woodrow Wilson HS) extended her career-high dig tally tonight with 19, in addition to managing the offense with 46 assists.

Tournament MVP Lane Carico carried the Hurricane squad with 20 digs and 13 kills.

Although the final score read 3-1, the entire match was excruciatingly close. Both teams had opportunities, but in the end it was Miami (6-0) who capitalized when it mattered most.

The final kill tally was nearly equal, but the Hurricanes finished with a .242 hitting percentage, compared to the Waves .194.

The teams battled in the first set, and traded points until Miami went on a run to take an 11-6 lead. After Robinson prevented a blocked ball from hitting the ground, the Hurricanes got a chance to put the ball away, but a stuff block from Frederick gave the Waves the point. The play sparked a 7-1 run that put Pepperdine back on top. Miami quickly tied the match again, only for the Waves to reclaim it. Tied at 15, Pepperdine found its offensive rhythm and went on a 10-3 run to put away the set. Frederick led all hitters with seven kills on 15 errorless swings, while Christiaansen tallied nine digs.

The second stanza was fought just as close, with 14 ties and four lead changes. Despite hitting 16 kills in the set, the Waves found themselves down 24-23 following a Carico kill. On the following point, a misplayed pass was sent over to the Hurricane side of the net, only to be returned with another put away from Carico to tie the match, 1-1.

Miami opened the third set with an 8-3 lead, only to see Pepperdine erase the advantage point-by-point to tie the set at 11. A 5-2 run once again put the Hurricanes on top, but the Waves continued to dig and dive their way back into the game. Down 16-21, Pepperdine began to gain some momentum after Samantha Cash (San Diego, Calif./Canyon Crest Academy) pegged down a kill to end a marathon rally. The freshman issued two more kills and a block to bring the Waves within one, but Miami got the momentum to swing back in their favor as they took the set 25-21.

The fourth set did not fare well for Pepperdine in the early going, as Miami attacked its way to a 5-0 lead. It took nearly the entire frame, but the Waves eventually dug themselves out of the hole. Down 18-21 Victoria Adelhelm (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Santa Fe Christian HS) sent a kill down with a determination that sparked a 4-1 run to tie the set at 22. Two points later and tied at 23, the Hurricanes came up with a timely block to set up match point for Johnson, who struck down her 21^st kill of the match to put an end to the well-fought battle.

Adelhelm finished the night with nine kills and a block, while Hill swung her way to 11 kills and 10 digs. Freshman Katie Messing (The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands HS) once again proved she has what it takes, nailing down 12 kills.

The Waves return to action this Wednesday, Sept. 7 for a match with UCLA inside Firestone Fieldhouse at 5 p.m. The week concludes in Dayton, Ohio, where Pepperdine will face Michigan, Florida State and Dayton in the Flyer Classic.

Pepperdine Asics Classic All-Tournament Team
Most Valuable Performer - Lane Carico (Miami)
Most Valuable Libero - Ryan Shaffer (Miami)

All-Tournament
Alex Johnson (Miami)
Katie Gallagher (Miami)
Lilla Frederick (Pepperdine)
Kellie Woolever (Pepperdine)
Stacey Schmidt (UC Santa Barbara)
Kathleen Luft (Georgia)

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