Final Stats | Box Score: Idaho 3, Pepperdine 1

IRVINE, Calif. - The Pepperdine women's volleyball team dropped a four-set decision today against Idaho to conclude the UC Irvine Tournament. Despite the loss, sophomore Gaby Palmeri delivered an impressive performance, sending down 11 kills while hitting .310.

Idaho (2-5), who committed just one service error while sending down 11 aces, won by set scores of 25-23, 25-12, 21-25, 25-17.

The Waves (3-3) countered with six aces of their own, but committed 10 errors at the line.

Pepperdine did win the defensive battle at the net, out-blocking the Vandals 9-5. Olivia Okoro (Carrollton, Texas/Hebron HS/Tennessee) led the way with three roofs.

Palmeri (Davis, Calif./St. Francis HS) sent down 11 kills and helped the Waves' cause by firing just two miscues. The sophomore was close to picking up her first career double-double, but settled for a career-high eight digs.

Becca Strehlow (Long Beach, Calif./Woodrow Wilson HS) was once again an all-around threat, and paced Pepperdine in kills with 12. She added 22 assists and 10 digs for her third triple-double of the season and fourth of her career.

Strehlow's setting counterpart, Chanel Brown (Tempe, Ariz./Valley Christian HS/Arizona), was also impressive and posted 21 assists and 11 digs. On the offensive end, she added six kills while hitting .316 (9 kills-0 errors-19 attempts).

Only a few points separated the two opposing squads for most of set one. Idaho took a timely three-point lead late in the frame at 23-20, but the Waves knotted the score thanks in part to a kill and block out of Strehlow. The Vandals earned a side out to take set point and held on to win 25-23 to take the opening advantage.

Pepperdine struggled in the second set, fell behind early and was never quite able to recover. Despite three Palmeri kills, Idaho claimed victory in the frame and a 2-0 overall lead.

The Waves finally found some rhythm in the third set behind Jillian Bergeson's (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood HS) strong showing at the service line. The sophomore fired off three aces, bringing her season total to a team-high 15, and Pepperdine extended the match with the 25-21 win.

Idaho and Pepperdine fought fiercely for control in set four, and the two teams were deadlocked all the way to 16-16. Unfortunately for the Waves, Terra Varney's serving sparked a 10-1 Vandal run to end the match.

Pepperdine now prepares for the Bluejay Invitational on Sept. 12-13. A tough lineup including Wichita State, Bowling Green and tournament host Creighton is on deck.