Final Stats

Box Score: Creighton 3, Pepperdine 1

OMAHA, Neb. - The Pepperdine women's volleyball team proved to be a formidable test for Creighton, but ultimately fell in four sets, 25-22, 19-25, 25-20, 25-22. Despite the loss, sophomore Gaby Palmeri shined for the Waves and delivered her first collegiate double-double.

The Bluejays, receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll, improve to 4-3 on the young season while the Waves drop to 3-4.

Despite the setback, Palmeri (Davis, Calif./St. Francis HS) continues to get better and better for Pepperdine. She led the way with a career-high 16 kills while hitting .344 (16 kills-5 errors-32 attempts) to go along with her career-best 13 digs. It was the sophomore's first collegiate double-double.

Both Becca Strehlow (Long Beach, Calif./Woodrow Wilson HS) and Chanel Brown (Tempe, Ariz./Valley Christian HS/Arizona) ended the match with assists-digs double-doubles. Strehlow paced the Waves with 28 assists and 14 digs, while Brown handed out 12 helpers and picked up 13 digs.

Overall, Creighton out-killed Pepperdine 59-45 while maintaining a higher hitting percentage. The Waves, meanwhile, edged the Bluejays in both digs and aces.

Although Creighton jumped out to a sizable lead in set one, the Waves were able to battle their way back and challenge the Bluejays. After falling behind by as many as seven points, Pepperdine found some rhythm late thanks in part to the offensive prowess of Palmeri and Samantha Cash (San Diego, Calif./Canyon Crest Academy). Their combined five-straight kills narrowed the gap to two points, 22-24, but Creighton earned the sideout it needed to put away the set.

The Waves fared much better in set two, jumping ahead to a 12-7 advantage to take the early control. The Bluejays strung together a 6-2 run but Pepperdine remained strong, and never relinquished the lead. Strehlow put down the final kill off of the Jillian Bergeson (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood HS) assist to clinch the set 25-19. Strehlow paced her team with four kills. Palmeri followed with three, after tallying six kills in the first.

Knotted up one set apiece, the two teams battled fiercely in set three. Tied 9-9, Creighton scored three unanswered points to take over the lead, unfortunately for the Waves, once and for all. Pepperdine was never far behind, but the home team was able to hold on to win 25-20.

Notably, the Bluejay's Leah McNary sent down her 1,000th career kill at set point.

The Waves refused to go down quietly, and battled Creighton point-for-point in the fourth frame. The score read even 10 times before the Bluejays got the break they were in search of. Creighton went on a timely 3-0 run after being tied up 21-all. Although Strehlow put down another kill, the Bluejays got a kill out of Kelli Browning to secure the match.

Bergeson concluded the match with 11 digs and nine kills, while Cash added six kills, two aces and two blocks.

Pepperdine continues action at the Bluejay Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 13. The Waves square off against Wichita State at 8 a.m. (PT) before concluding the tournament at 3:30 p.m. against Bowling Green. Links to live stats and video can be found on the Waves' schedule page.