Final Stats

MALIBU, Calif. -- Combined double-doubles from Maddie Dilfer and Heidi Dyer led the Waves to a thrilling five-set victory over Rhode Island to begin the Asics Classic in Firestone Fieldhouse this Friday afternoon. Pepperdine split the first four sets 17-25, 25-21, 21-25 and 25-23 before putting the match away with a 15-11 fifth set to start the 2016 season on a high note.

Returning sophomore Dyer (San Clemente, Calif./Saddleback Valley Christian HS) and junior transfer Dilfer (Saratoga, Calif./Valley Christian HS/Notre Dame) led the squad with 24 assists apiece. Dyer led the home team's effort with 11 kills and also earned seven digs. Dilfer completed her first double-double as a Wave with 18 digs and a service ace.

Also putting in solid work were returning West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year Tarah Wylie (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral HS), returning sophomore Nikki Lyons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas HS) and newcomers junior transfer Ashley Harris (Petaluma, Calif./Casa Grande HS/Arizona) and freshmen Hannah Frohling (Edmond, Okla./Edmond North HS) and Hana Lishman (Kailua, Hawai'i/Punahou School).

Wylie denied the Rams with six block assists from the middle, while also producing nine kills on 24 swings for a .208 hitting percentage. Lyons smashed eight kills and two aces down on the opposition, while backing up the Waves on defense with nine digs.

Harris was good for seven kills and Frohling came in to the match late to make an outstanding difference in the Waves' momentum. She finished the match with eight kills on 25 swings, two aces, six digs and 13 serve receptions. Lishman was solid from the back row with 22 digs and 26 serve receptions on a 1.000 reception percentage in her first outing as the Waves' libero.

The start of the match was close as both teams hit the 10-point mark. After a 13-13 tie, however, the Rams started to inch away from the home team. After a few back-and-forth rallies, Rhode Island advanced to an 18-14 lead. Pepperdine tried to close the gap, eventually hitting a 16-18 deficit, but the opposition once again turned up the heat and closed the set 25-17.

In the second set, both teams were point-for-point again, this time to a 6-6 tie before the Waves would start to break away. A strong service by Lyons including a service ace brought the home team up to an 11-7 advantage. Rhode Island stayed in the match, tying the match at 21-21, but Pepperdine closed the door late and a block by Harris and freshman Jasmine Gross (Portland, Ore./Jesuit HS) and kills from senior Gaby Palmeri (Davis, Calif./St. Francis HS) and Gross sealed the deal with a 25-21 set win.

With the match tied after the break, the Rams came out big with a 6-1 lead to start the third set. After a quick timeout called by head coach Scott Wong, the Waves picked up momentum and closed the gap to just a two-point Rhode Island lead. After a 20-18 URI lead, the opposition closed out the Waves and built a 25-21 set win to go up 2-1 on the day.

Pepperdine refused to let the match go to the Rams, though, and both teams went back-and-forth in the fourth set en route to a 10-10 tie. The teams continued to exchange points, eventually hitting the 23-23 mark on the final stretch. Frohling stood tough at the service line, finding a hole for her second ace of the match to put the Waves in set-point range. An attack error from the Rams sealed the deal and sent the match to a fifth set.

After such a high-intensity fourth, the momentum was in the Waves' court and the home team built a strong 11-6 lead over Rhode Island. Kills from Wylie, Dyer and junior Katherine Towslee (Woodinville, Wash./Eastside Catholic HS/Connecticut) gave Pepperdine a match-point opportunity and with strong defensive game, the Waves forced an attack error for the 15-11 victory.

Also key components to the Waves win were Palmeri, junior Ashley Morgan (Anaheim Hills, Calif./Canyon HS) and Gross.

Palmeri posted five kills, three digs and two blocks. Morgan tabbed seven digs and nine serve receptions and Gross denied the Rams' offensive with four blocks including two solos.

The Waves will be back tonight at 7 p.m. for the team's second Asics Classic match-up with Lipscomb. Find live stats and live stream here: http://gowav.es/2bT5hVh. Follow the Waves on Facebook and Twitter @WavesVolleyball for immediate updates, recaps and more!