Match Statistics 
March 16, 2012
SANTA MONICA, Calif. - The Pepperdine women's sand volleyball team opened the inaugural season of the emerging sport today at the Annenberg Community Beach House and saw three of its five teams win their respective pools. Overall, the Waves posted a tournament-best record of 12-3.
Florida State followed with an 8-7 record, while USC went 7-8. Long Beach State notched a 3-12 overall record in pool play.
"We learned a lot today," said head coach Nina Matthies, "We were the only team who hadn't played prior to today, so it was good to finally get out there and compete.
"We had a few rough starts, but I'm very pleased with how each of five pairs finished."
Emily Cook (Huntington Beach, Calif./Murrieta Valley HS) and Michaela Christiaansen (Tucson, Ariz./Ironwood Ridge HS) took a 2-0 record into their final match of the day. Up against the Trojans' Sara Shaw and Gene Urango, also undefeated in pool play, the Waves quickly got on the board with a 21-16 win in set one.
The USC duo looked to even the match in the second frame, but Cook and Christiaansen killed off several set points to win 23-21 to clinch the match and the pool.
"Emily and Michaela played great sand volleyball today, and really embraced what it means to be a sand volleyball player," said Matthies of the pair.
Victoria Adelhelm (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Santa Fe Christian HS) and Kellie Woolever (Long Beach, Calif./Woodrow Wilson HS) also turned heads today, going a perfect 3-0 to win the pool. Although the duo got off to a rocky start and dropped their first set 21-9 to Katie Fuller and Natalie Hagglund, the Waves quickly shook off any opening day nerves and took the next two frames 25-23, 15-7.
After winning their next match versus a Florida State tandem in straight sets, Adelhelm and Woolever downed Long Beach State's No. 1 team of Tara Roenicke and Caitlin Ledoux, 15-21, 21-19, 15-13.
"Both pairs competed hard and never quit," boasted Matthies of her players. "They showed some real Pepperdine Waves pride today."
Pepperdine's No. 1 duo comprised of Caitlin Racich (Santa Barbara, Calif./Dos Pueblos HS) and Summer Ross (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad Seaside Academy) were dominant today, and did not drop a set in all three matches. Moreover, Racich and Ross held opponents to just 12.17 points-per-set in the six sets played.
Kim Hill (Portland, Ore./Portland Christian HS) and Lilla Frederick (Huntington Beach, Calif./Cornelia Connelly HS) suffered an early loss, but bounced back to win the final two matches and finish second in their pool.
Although Kelley Larsen (Jamul, Calif./Christian HS) and Stevi Robinson (Hermosa Beach, Calif./Mira Costa) went 1-2 in pool play, the Waves still placed second in the four-team pool. The pair ended their opening day with a 21-11, 21-12 triumph over Kendall Bateman and Sam Hirschmann of USC.
Tomorrow action continues with a double elimination tournament between the pairs that will translate into team points. The No. 1s will play other No. 1s, No. 2s vs. No. 2s, etc. The overall standings of each of the five flights will determine the points awarded toward the team score.
On the final day, Sunday, the pairs will square off in a single elimination tournament that will decide the overall pair's champion. Seeding for the bracket is based on Friday's pool play results.
Competition is expected to play out rain or shine. Spectators are encouraged to bring their own beach chairs, and are advised to allow extra time for travel on Sunday as the LA Marathon ends in Santa Monica.
POOL PLAY (March 16, 2012)
Court 1 (1. PEP 3-0, 2. USC 2-1, 3. FSU 1-2, 4. LBSU 0-3)
Sara Shaw-Gene Urango (USC) def. Visnja Djurdjecvic-Melanie Pavels (FSU) 21-16, 21-19
Michaela Christiaansen-Emily Cook (PEP) def. Laurn Minkel-Delainey Aigner-Swesey (LBSU) 21-17, 27-25
Shaw-Urango (USC) def. Minkel-Aigner-Swesey (LBSU) 21-18, 21-14
Christiaansen-Cook (PEP) def. Djurdjecvic-Pavels (FSU) 26-24, 21-19
Djurdjecvic-Pavels (FSU) def. Minkel-Aigner-Swesey (LBSU) 21-19, 21-17
Christiaansen-Cook (PEP) def. Shaw-Urango (USC) 21-16, 23-21
Court 2 (1. PEP 3-0, 2. LBSU 2-1, 3. USC 1-2, 4. FSU 0-3)
Caitlin Ledoux-Tara Roenicke (LBSU) def. Lauryssa Blackman-Sarah Wickstrom (FSU) 21-11, 21-18
Victoria Adelhelm-Kellie Woolever (PEP) def. Katie Fuller-Natalie Hagglund (USC) 9-21, 25-23, 15-7
Adelhelm-Woolever (PEP) def. Blackman-Wickstrom (FSU) 21-19, 23-21
Ledoux-Roenicke (LBSU) def. Fuller-Hagglund (USC) 21-15, 21-17
Adelhelm-Woolever (PEP) def. Ledoux-Roenicke (LBSU) 15-21, 21-19, 15-13
Fuller-Hagglund (USC) def. Blackman-Wickstrom (FSU) 21-13, 21-18
Court 3 (1. FSU 3-0, 2. PEP 2-1, 3. USC 1-2, 4. LBSU 0-3)
Kirby Burnham-Kelly Irvin (USC) def. Libby Fontanilla-Alma Serna (LBSU) 21-10, 21-10
Jace Pardon-Jekaterina Stepanova (FSU) def. Lilla Frederick-Kim Hill (PEP) 23-21, 21-19
Pardon-Stepanova (FSU) def. Burnham-Irvin (USC) 21-13, 21-10
Frederick-Hill (PEP) def. Fontanilla-Serna (LBSU) 21-8, 21-9
Pardon-Stepanova (FSU) def. Fontanilla-Serna (LBSU) 21-14, 21-15
Frederick-Hill (PEP) def. Burnham-Irvin (USC) 21-19, 21-19
Court 4 (1. FSU 3-0, 2. PEP 1-2, 3. LBSU 1-2, 4. USC 1-2)
Kendall Bateman-Sam Hirschmann (USC) def. Tyler Jackson-Janisa Johnson (LBSU) 21-15, 21-17
Aurora Newgard-Brittany Tiegs (FSU) def. Kelley Larsen-Stevi Robinson (PEP) 21-16, 23-21
Jackson-Johnson (LBSU) def. Larsen-Robinson (PEP) 25-23, 25-23
Newgard-Tiegs (FSU) def. Bateman-Hirschmann (USC) 21-14, 23-21
Larsen-Robinson (PEP) def. Bateman-Hirschmann (USC) 21-11, 21-12
Newgard-Tiegs (FSU) def. Jackson-Johnson (LBSU) 21-16, 21-19
Court 5 (1. PEP 3-0, 2. USC 2-1, 3. FSU 1-2, 4. LBSU 0-3)
Caitlin Racich-Summer Ross (PEP) def. Mallory Kiley-Stephanie Pellitteri (FSU) 21-9, 21-12
Kati Dudridge-Megan Thornberry (USC) def. Chelsea Cabrajac-Haleigh Hampton (LBSU) 21-18, 21-8
Duddridge-Thornberry (USC) def. Kiley-Pellitteri (FSU) 21-18, 21-18
Racich-Ross (PEP) def. Cabrajac-Hampton (LBSU) 21-12, 21-11
Racich-Ross (PEP) def. Duddridge-Thornberry (USC) 21-15, 21-14
Kiley-Pellitteri (FSU) def. Cabrajac-Hampton (LBSU) 21-13, 17-21, 15-7
TOTALS: PEP 12-3, FSU 8-7 USC 7-8, LBSU 3-1
