Women's Volleyball 9/24/2016 12:00:00 AM

LMU Downs Pepperdine 3-0 to Open WCC Action

Sept. 24, 2016

Final Stats | HIGHLIGHTS

MALIBU, Calif. -- The Pepperdine women's volleyball team succumbed to Loyola Marymount, a team receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches Poll, with a three-set loss in Firestone Fieldhouse to open West Coast Conference play this Saturday afternoon. LMU took the sweep with 25-12, 26-24 and 25-16 set results.

The Waves (6-7, 0-1 WCC) led the match with 10.0 team blocks compared to the Lions (10-3, 1-0 WCC) 3.0 team blocks, but ultimately the oppositions .264 attack percentage and six aces sealed the fate of the match.

Sophomore Nikki Lyons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas HS) led the Waves with eight kills on 25 swings, posting a .240 success rate throughout the match. She also led the team with 11 digs. Freshman Jasmine Gross (Portland, Ore./Jesuit HS) led the squad with six blocks, and added four kills and digs.

Freshman Hannah Frohling (Edmond, Okla./Edmond North HS) posted six kills and three blocks, including one solo rejection. Sophomore Heidi Dyer (San Clemente, Calif./Saddleback Valley Christian HS) and junior Maddie Dilfer (Saratoga, Calif./Valley Christian HS/Notre Dame) led the team with 12 and 11 assists respectively.

Sophomore Tarah Wylie (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral HS) posted five kills on a .417 hitting percentage, and added three blocks and an ace and junior Ashley Harris (Petaluma, Calif./Casa Grande HS/Arizona) tabbed four blocks. Sophomore Ashley Morgan (Anaheim Hills, Calif./Canyon HS) and freshman libero Hana Lishman (Kailua, Hawai'i/Punahou School) each tabbed nine digs.

In the first set, the Lions worked ahead to an early edge, amassing an 8-3 lead after strong serving and a big attack effort. The Waves picked up some point opportunities throughout the set, but service errors kept Pepperdine out of any substantial runs and LMU ended the set with a 25-12 victory.

The Waves had more energy in the second set, working point-for-point with Loyola Marymount to the 5-5 mark before the Lions again gained the edge and posted a 6-1 run to pull ahead 12-6. Pepperdine came back later in the set with solid blocks, posting seven blocks in the second set alone to put the gap at only a two-point 19-21 deficit. A smash from Lyons and blocks from Wylie and Harris tied the set for the Waves at the 23-23 mark, but the opposition had the momentum and won the set 26-24 to go up 2-0 in the match.

The Waves and the Lions both had energy to start the third set, but the Waves started the match with a 9-5 lead after an ace from Wylie and kills from Frohling. The Lions wouldn't roll over, however, and tied the match 9-9 before pulling ahead on a 13-1 run to gain an 18-10 advantage. The lead was enough to close the set as the opposition eventually won 25-16 to shut down the Waves in three.

Next, Pepperdine continues the home stretch on Tuesday, September 27 at 7 p.m. against No. 13 BYU. Find live stats and stream here: http://gowav.es/2bT5hVh. Follow the Waves on Facebook and Twitter @WavesVolleyball for immediate updates, recaps and more.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Hannah Frohling: OH; 6' 0"; Freshman

#9 Jasmine Gross: MB; 6' 3"; Freshman

#11 Hana Lishman: L; 5' 8"; Freshman

#21 Ashley Harris: OH; 6' 7"; Junior

#4 Heidi Dyer: OH; 6' 2"; Freshman

#12 Tarah Wylie: MB; 6' 5"; Freshman

#16 Maddie Dilfer: S; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#8 Ashley Morgan: Libero; 5' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#1 Hannah Frohling
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: OH

#9 Jasmine Gross
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: MB

#11 Hana Lishman
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: L

#21 Ashley Harris
: 6' 7"; Junior
: OH

#4 Heidi Dyer
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: OH

#12 Tarah Wylie
: 6' 5"; Freshman
: MB

#16 Maddie Dilfer
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: S

#8 Ashley Morgan
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: Libero