Final Stats

Box Score: UC Irvine 3, Pepperdine 2

MALIBU, Calif. - Despite an inspired performance by Samantha Cash that included 11 kills and a season-high eight blocks, the Pepperdine women's volleyball team dropped a 3-2 decision to UC Irvine on Friday evening. Jillian Bergeson and Becca Strehlow both charted kills-digs double-doubles in the loss.

Pepperdine (3-2) was triumphant in the first and third sets but was unable to seal the deal in the fourth. The Anteaters (3-2), playing on their home court, capitalized on the opportunity and won by set scores of 22-25, 25-22, 15-25, 25-18, 15-12.

Cash (San Diego, Calif./Canyon Crest Academy) delivered her best performance of the season to date and paced the Waves with 17.5 points. She was credited with 11 kills while hitting .391 (11 kills-2 errors-23 attempts), and added five assisted blocks, three solo roofs and an ace. With tonight's stellar block performance, the senior brings her career total to 353, moving herself into ninth place on Pepperdine's all-time list.

Strehlow (Long Beach, Calif./Woodrow Wilson HS) did it all for Pepperdine, handing out 35 assists from the back row. In the front row, the junior tacked down 10 kills of off 19 errorless swings for a .526 hitting percentage - good for a new career high. If that wasn't enough, she also collected a team-high 17 digs.

Posting her second double-double of the day and team-best fourth of the season was Bergeson (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood HS), who ended the evening with 13 kills and 13 digs.

Allie Loitz (Bonita, Calif./Bonita Vista HS) shined in her new role as libero, adding 10 digs to the stat line.

Despite having four players in double-figure digs, UC Irvine out-dug the Waves overall 80-64, providing enough second-chance opportunities to take the win. Marisa Bubica led the Anteater's offense with 24 kills.

The Waves rolled through set one with ease, taking the frame 25-22. Up 12-10, Pepperdine went on a 5-0 run fueled by two kills and a block courtesy of Cash. Pepperdine would not trail the duration of the frame.

UC Irvine got the early upper hand in set two and paid Pepperdine back with a 25-22 win of its own.

The Waves got back on track in set three, and hit at a sizzling .417 (15-0-36) clip in the frame to walk away with the 25-15 triumph.

The 'Eaters overtook the lead at 10-9 in set four and never let Pepperdine back in. Their campaign to force a fifth set was a successful one after winning 25-18.

With the momentum its favor, UC Irvine open the deciding set on a 4-1 run. Although the Waves were able to climb out of the hole and tie the score at 7-7, UCI went on another run to reclaim the lead. Olivia Okoro (Carrollton, Texas/Hebron HS/Tennessee) was able to take away one match point with a kill, but Bubica sided out for the 'Eaters to put the match away, 15-12.

Pepperdine concludes the UC Irvine Tournament with an 11 a.m. match against Idaho on Saturday, Sept. 6. Live scores and video will be available.