March 25, 2014
MALIBU, Calif. - After two seasons and 30 duals, the #1 Pepperdine sand volleyball team saw its perfect regular-season record slip away with a 4-1 loss at #2 USC. Despite the setback, the Waves still boast an all-time regular season record of 29-1.
Pepperdine (7-1) shut out the Trojans (8-1) during the season-opener at Zuma Beach on March 8, but the Waves would not be as fortunate while playing inside the Merle Norman Stadium in the heart of USC's campus.
The No. 4 and No. 5 teams took to the court first.
In their first match together, Samantha Cash (San Diego, Calif./Canyon Crest Academy) and Taylor Racich (Santa Barbara, Calif./Dos Pueblos HS) fell 21-14, 21-17 to Nicolette Martin and Allie Wheeler.
Emily Cook (Huntington Beach, Calif./Murrieta Valley HS) and Katie Messing (The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands HS) were well matched with Eve Ettinger and Bria Russ. After the Waves stole the first set 21-19, the Trojan duo extended the match with a 23-21 win in set two.
With the home court edge, Ettinger and Russ took the early lead in the deciding frame and pushed through to win 15-12 and give USC a 2-0 lead as the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 pairs stepped foot on the court.
Although Becca Strehlow (Long Beach, Calif./Woodrow Wilson HS/UCLA) and Lara Dykstra (Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union HS/Nebraska) defeated Kirby Burnham and Sarah Hughes in straight sets in Malibu back on March 8, the Trojans' top pair would return the favor today to clinch the dual.
USC extended the lead 4-0 behind Sam Hirschmann and Natasa Siljkovic's win at No. 3.
Team Kell(i)ey, comprised of seniors Kellie Woolever (Long Beach, Calif./Woodrow Wilson HS) and Kelley Larsen (Jamul, Calif./Christian HS), put a point on the board for the Waves. The duo defeated Kelly Claes and Alexa Strange 21-18, 21-14 to improve their individual record to 6-1 on the season.
Pepperdine looks to rebound from the loss this weekend with the Sand in the City tournament, hosted by Georgia State, on March 29-30.
Dual | #2 USC 4, #1 Pepperdine 1
March 24, 2014 | Los Angeles, Calif. (Merle Norman Stadium)
No. 1 Kirby Burnham/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Lara Dykstra/Becca Strehlow (PEP) 21-17, 21-15
No. 2 Kelley Larsen/Kellie Woolever (PEP) def. Kelly Claes/Alexa Strange (USC) 21-18, 21-14
No. 3 Sam Hirschmann/Natasa Siljkovic (USC) def. Delaney Knudsen/Caitlin Racich (PEP); 21-12, 21-15
No. 4 Eve Ettinger/Bria Russ (USC) def. Emily Cook/Katie Messing (PEP); 19-21, 23-21, 15-12
No. 5 Nicolette Martin/Allie Wheeler (USC) def. Samantha Cash/Taylor Racich (PEP); 21-14, 21-17
