Final Stats

MALIBU, Calif. - Waves women's volleyball suffered the first loss of 2015 tonight in the second match of a three-match Lipscomb Invitational. After winning the first match today against Florida Atlantic, Pepperdine went up against tournament hosts Lipscomb University. Both teams played admirably on the court, with the Waves succumbing to the 3-1 loss after 22-25, 25-23, 21-25 and 23-25 sets.

The Bisons had the Waves' number in the beginning of the match, but Pepperdine settled down and fought tough in each outing. As a team, the Waves posted 51 kills, 51 assists, 89 digs and 14 block assists for 60.0 points. Despite the efforts, Pepperdine falls to a 5-1 record so far this season.

Senior Lara Dykstra (Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union HS/Nebraska) was instrumental in the back row with 34 digs. Fellow senior Becca Strehlow (Long Beach, Calif./Woodrow Wilson HS/UCLA) also helped Pepperdine stay tough throughout after tabbing her second double-double of the day and third of the season. She posted 10 digs and 42 assists while also posting three block assists and three kills in the match.

Freshmen were big on the offensive again for the Waves with Nikki Lyons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas HS), Heidi Dyer (San Clemente, Calif./Saddleback Valley Christian HS) and Tarah Wylie (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral HS) leading the pack. Lyons led Pepperdine with a commanding 16 kills, while adding seven digs for 16.5 total points. Dyer was good for 11 kills and eight digs, as well as two block assists and 12.0 points. Wylie again kept an impressive hitting output after tallying 10 kills, with two errors, in 18 total attempts for a .444 hitting percentage. She also put up three block assists and four digs for 11.5 points.

Lipscomb came out more than ready in the first set, out-attacking the Waves to amass a 5-0 lead early on. It was a gap Pepperdine would not be able to close throughout the rest of the set, as Lipscomb kept up the offensive. The Waves came close with 16-13 difference, and kept the score within that range throughout the rest of the set. The Bisons finished 25-22 over the Waves to go up 1-0.

The second set started heavily in the Bison's favor as they climbed to an 8-2 lead early. Pepperdine stayed in the set mentally however and after falling to an 18-12 deficit, the Waves started fighting back. With sophomore Ashley Morgan (Anaheim Hills, Calif./Canyon HS) serving, Pepperdine tied things up 18-18. After a few more volleys and a lot of want on both sides, Pepperdine earned the set two victory 25-23.

The third set began more evenly, with the Bisons pulling away in the middle of the set, but the Waves staying right in the set throughout. Lipscomb held the lead in the rest of the set, working towards a 24-19 lead. Despite coming back to a four-point deficit, some net-work by the Bisons put the Waves under 25-21. The Waves went into the fourth set down 2-1 for the first time this season.

Pepperdine had the edge in the beginning of the fourth set, gathering a 10-7 lead. The Bisons closed the gap 10-10 before taking the team's first lead of the set. The set went back-and-forth for a few volleys, 16-16, 18-18, 19-19, and eventually 20-20. The next few points for Lipscomb seemed to put the match away, but the Waves showed strength until the end, bringing the last set within two-points before the home team overcame and won 25-23.

After finishing day one 1-1, the Waves will look for redemption and to close the tournament ahead tomorrow against Ball State at 10:30 a.m. (PT).