Final Stats

MALIBU, Calif. - Pepperdine women's volleyball impressed fans after finishing the Lipscomb Invitational with a commanding straight set win over Ball State. The Waves triumphed after imposing 25-16, 25-21 and 25-7 set wins over the Cardinals.

The Waves finished the weekend with a 2-1 showing in three matches, amassing a 6-1 record for the 2015 season thus far.

Freshman Tarah Wylie (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral HS) was instrumental yet again after earning 14 kills (2 errors-20 attempts-.600 hitting pct.), three block assists and 15.5 points.

Freshmen outside hitters Heidi Dyer (San Clemente, Calif./Saddleback Valley Christian HS) and Nikki Lyons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas HS) were also heavy on the offensive with 10 and eight kills respectively. Dyer tabbed a .259 attack percentage (3 errors-27 attempts), five digs and one block assist and Lyons put up a .375 hitting output (2 kills-16 attempts) along with seven digs.

Senior setter Becca Strehlow posted 40 assists, eight digs and a 4-6 attack effort (.667) and senior libero Lara Dykstra tabbed 19 digs. Junior Gaby Palmeri (Davis, Calif./St. Francis HS) added seven kills (.500) and two block assists and senior Olivia Okoro (Carollton, Texas/Hebron HS/Tennessee) put up six kills.

The Waves came out strong early on, intent on staying ahead in the set. Pepperdine amassed a 5-0 lead to start things off and stayed in front of the Cardinals throughout. After tabbing a 21-16 lead, the Waves worked with the momentum and put the set away 25-16.

Ball State took the advantage early in the second set, tallying a 4-1 lead over Pepperdine. The Waves brought the score to a tied 4-4, but despite the team's early efforts, the Cardinals kept staying just far enough away to hold the lead. After a sizable 15-10 gap with Ball State in front, Pepperdine started the comeback. With the score 20-20, the Waves once again shut the door hard and won the set 25-21 to go up 2-0.

Pepperdine came out more than ready to put the third set away quickly, and the team did just that. After running away with a 6-0 lead to start the set, the Waves kept pounding. With Strehlow serving, Pepperdine collected a five-point run to go up 14-4 over the Cardinals. It was a lead the opposition were unable to come back from, as the Waves had another run with Dykstra at the service line and the team eventually taking the set with an impressive 25-7 differential.

Next, Pepperdine will compete in the USC Invitational from September 10-11. The Waves will take on New Mexico and USC on Thursday at 12:30 and 8 p.m. respectively to start and then close up the weekend with Utah State at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.