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MALIBU, Calif. — After an anxious and exciting battle, the Pepperdine women's volleyball team was bested by Saint Mary's after four sets. The Waves went up to start the match with a 25-20 decision, but then dropped the final three sets 18-25, 21-25 and 27-29 to close things out.

Despite falling 3-1, the Waves put up big numbers, amassing a .280 hitting percentage after posting 64 kills and only 17 errors in 168 attempts. Pepperdine tabbed six aces, three of which came from senior libero Lara Dykstra (Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union HS/Nebraska), 87 digs and 12 block assists.

Freshmen Tarah Wylie (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral HS), Heidi Dyer (San Clemente, Calif./Saddleback Valley Christian HS) and Nikki Lyons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas HS) led the offensive for the Waves. Middle blocker Wylie led the team with 17 kills and only two errors in 23 attempts, and posted an impressive .652 hitting percentage to close out the night. Outside hitter Dyer tallied 16 kills (1 error-45 attempts), a .333 hitting percentage and nine digs and fellow outside hitter Lyons was good for 12 kills and 22 serve receptions.

Senior setter Becca Strehlow (Long Beach, Calif./Woodrow Wilson HS/UCLA) posted a season-high 53 assists, while also putting in three kills, 17 digs and two block assists. Dykstra left the court with 20 digs and 22 serve receptions, along with her three aces.

Pepperdine started the first in good fashion, accumulating a 5-2 lead early on. The Waves kept attacking, always staying in front of the Gaels, but with the opposition always fairly close behind. After the 18-17 mark with the Pepperdine ahead, the Waves buckled down and worked for a 7-3 output to close the set 25-20 and with a one-set lead.

The Gaels started the second set with the advantage, going up 7-2 over the Waves to start things off. It was a gap Pepperdine was unable to close throughout, coming close at the 8-11 mark. The opposition's momentum was not easy to break, however, and the Waves eventually fell 25-18 despite the team's efforts.

The third set was either teams to win, and with the score tied at 10-10, it stayed like that throughout most of play. The Gaels took a 15-11 advantage, and once again, it proved too much for the Waves as Saint Mary's steadily edged away. Pepperdine worked back to a 20-22 deficit, but a few choice plays worked in the oppositions favor as the team closed out the set 25-21.

The Waves stayed in the fourth set, working back from an early deficit to take a 14-11 lead. The Gaels stayed close in the set, but Pepperdine amassed a 24-21 lead late in the set. The opposition attacked hard and often to even the score 24-24. Both teams fought hard to stay in the set, but SMC seemed to once again have the edge, finishing the set and match 29-27 for the 3-1 win.

Pepperdine drops to 10-6 overall and 1-2 in West Coast Conference play. The Waves will be back in action at Firestone Fieldhouse on Saturday at 1 p.m. when Pepperdine takes on Pacific. The match will be live streamed and have live statistics available here: http://gowav.es/WVB2013.