No. 1 Pepperdine Splits at USAV Hermosa Beach Tournament
4/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball
SEASON STATS | TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. - The top-ranked Pepperdine beach volleyball program split the day at the USAV Hermosa Beach Tournament this Saturday, first sweeping sixth-ranked Long Beach State 5-0 before falling in a close 2-3 bout with second-ranked USC.
The Waves (15-2) opened the morning by the Hermosa Beach Pier with five wins over the 49ers (9-8), winning four of the matches in two-set decisions. Then to close out the tournament in the afternoon, Pepperdine fell 2-3 to USC (19-2), winning two of the matches in straight sets and falling in two of the matches in three sets throughout the battle.
On court one, senior Taylor Racich (Santa Barbara, Calif./Dos Pueblos HS) and freshman Heidi Dyer (San Clemente, Calif./Saddleback Valley Christian HS) battled back from a 14-21 first set loss to win the next two sets 21-19 and 15-7 over Rachel Nieto and Nele Barber to clinch the sweep.
In the number two spot, junior Delaney Knudsen (Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS) and freshman Kaity Bailey (Ojai, Calif./Villanova Preparatory School) made quick work of Jenelle Hudson and Zoi Konstantopoulou with a 21-16, 21-14 victory.
Sophomore Corinne Quiggle (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) and freshman Skylar Caputo (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Mira Costa HS) also picked up a two-set victory with 21-18 and 21-17 final marks to defeat Kobi Pekich and Sammee Thomas.
Freshmen pair Madalyn Roh (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral HS) and Anika Wilson (Santa Barbara, Calif./San Marcos HS) opened the day by continuing the team's success with a solid 21-10, 21-17 domination over Megan Kruidhof and Ciana Wagner.
On court five, senior Samantha Cash (San Diego, Calif./Canyon Crest Academy) and junior Sarah Seiber (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Cathedral Catholic HS/Arizona) would mark the Waves fifth win in the first match, defeating Peyton Garhovac and Ariana Garner with a 23-21 and 21-17 final decision to round out the 5-0 sweep.
Against the Trojans, Bailey and Knudsen and Cash and Seiber each won their matches in two sets. Bailey and Knudsen first downed Sophie Bukovec and Alexa Strange with a 21-17, 21-18 final mark, while Cash and Seiber bested Jo Kremer and Zoe Nightingale with a 21-18 and 21-11 decision towards the Waves effort.
On court one, Sara Hughes and Kelly Claes defeated Racich and Dyer with a 21-10 and 21-13 result, while the matches on courts three and four extended to three sets apiece. Caputo and Quiggle picked up the first set 21-19 over Allie Wheeler and Nicolette Martin, but the Trojans had the edge in the following sets, amassing a 21-14 and 15-8 final comeback.
On four Abril Bustamante and Jenna Belton handed Wilson and Roh the pairs' first loss of the season. After the Waves earned a 21-15 victory in the first set, USC came back to win 21-14 and 15-8 in the following sets to complete the 3-2 overall team win.
Next, the Waves will have a rematch with second-ranked USC on April 14 in Los Angeles. Follow @WavesBeachVB for updates and check on PepperdineSports.com for full results, recaps and more.
DUAL 16 | #1 PEPPERDINE 5, #6 LONG BEACH STATE 0
USAV HERMOSA BEACH TOURNAMENT | HERMOSA BEACH, CALIF. | APRIL 9
No. 1: Heidi Dyer/Taylor Racich (PEP) def. Rachel Nieto/Nele Barber (LBSU) - 14-21, 21-19, 15-7
No. 2: Kaity Bailey/Delaney Knudsen (PEP) def. Jenelle Hudson/Zoi Konstantopoulou (LBSU) - 21-16, 21-14
No. 3: Skylar Caputo/Corinne Quiggle (PEP) def. Kobi Pekich/Sammee Thomas (LBSU) - 21-18, 21-17
No. 4: Madalyn Roh/Anika Wilson (PEP) def. Megan Kruidhof/Ciana Wagner (LBSU) - 21-10, 21-17
No. 5: Samantha Cash/Sarah Seiber (PEP) def. Peyton Grahovac/Ariana Garner (LBSU) - 23-21, 21-17
DUAL 17 | #1 PEPPERDINE 2, #2 USC 3
USAV HERMOSA BEACH TOURNAMENT | HERMOSA BEACH, CALIF. | APRIL 9
No. 1: Sara Hughes/Kelly Claes (USC) def. Taylor Racich/Heidi Dyer (PEP) - 21-10, 21-13
No. 2: Kaity Bailey/Delaney Knudsen (PEP) def. Sophie Bukovec/Alexa Strange (USC) - 21-17, 21-18
No. 3: Allie Wheeler/Nicolette Martin (USC) def. Skylar Caputo/Corinne Quiggle (PEP) - 19-21, 21-14, 15-8
No. 4: Abril Bustamante/Jenna Belton (USC) def. Anika Wilson/Madalyn Roh (PEP) - 15-21, 21-14, 15-8
No. 5: Samantha Cash/Sarah Seiber (PEP) def. Jo Kremer/Zoe Nightingale (USC) - 21-18, 21-11
