Jasmine Gross (9) (Photo by Sarah Otteman)

Women's Volleyball 10/21/2017 12:00:00 AM

Waves Give #18 San Diego Five-Set Fight in Firestone

Oct. 21, 2017

MALIBU, Calif. -- The Pepperdine women's volleyball team blocked their way to a fifth set against No. 18 San Diego in Firestone Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon, but the Toreros came up big in the final moments for the West Coast Conference victory.

After going down 2-1 with 25-20, 16-25, 25-20 set scores, the Waves came back strong with a 25-22 fourth set win to force a fifth. USD had the momentum late in the match, however, and earned the 15-7 win for the 3-2 final score.

Jasmine Gross led the Waves with a season-high 13 blocks, while Hannah Frohling added 17 kills on a .319 success rate. Heidi Dyer was solid all around with a team-high 20 digs, 21 assists and three blocks and six kills for the Waves. Ashley Harris also hit for double-figure kills with 10 and Hana Lishman added 18 digs. Nikki Lyons posted seven blocks and nine kills as well.

BIG WAVES

Hannah Frohling (Edmond, Okla./Edmond North HS): 17 kills, .319 hitting percentage, 3 blocks, 6 digs, 48 service receptions
Jasmine Gross (Portland, Ore./Jesuit HS): 13 blocks (1 solo), 5 kills, 7 digs
Heidi Dyer (San Clemente, Calif./Saddleback Valley Christian HS): 21 assists, 20 digs, 6 kills, 3 blocks
Ashley Harris (Petaluma, Calif./Casa Grande HS/Arizona): 10 kills, .360 hitting percentage, 4 blocks (1 solo)
Hana Lishman (Kailua, Hawai'i/Punahou School): 18 digs, 4 assists, 1 ace, 22 service receptions
Nikki Lyons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas HS): 9 kills, 7 blocks, 9 digs, 1 ace
Blossom Sato (Santa Monica, Calif./Santa Monica HS/Mississippi State): 19 assists, 4 digs, 1 ace, 1 kill

WAVES VS. TOREROS

Pepperdine out-blocked San Diego with 18.0 team blocks, compared to 7.0, but the Toreros big attack effort with 68 kills on a .174 output against the Waves 51 kills on a .202 success rate ended with the opposition win. Pepperdine added 48 assists, three aces and 69 digs, while USD was good for 65 assists, seven aces and 95 digs on the day.

PEPPERDINE ATTACK BY SET

Set K-E-TA (Pct)

1. 6-4-36 (.056)

2. 15-1-33 (.424)

3. 10-3-31 (.226)

4. 13-2-45 (.244)

5. 7-6-28 (.036)

TOTAL: 51-16-173 (.202)

SAN DIEGO ATTACK BY SET

Set K-E-TA (Pct)

1. 18-11-51 (.137)

2. 11-8-37 (.081)

3. 14-9-33 (.152)

4. 19-7-53 (.226)

5. 6-0-16 (.375)

TOTAL: 68-35-190 (.174)

PLAY-BY-PLAY

In the first set, USD (16-4, 9-1 WCC) pulled ahead 6-3 early, but the Waves (12-11, 4-6 WCC) countered on the attack and tied things up 10-10. With back-to-back blocks from Gross and Harris, the Waves stayed close en route to a 13-13 tied score. The Toreros started to pull away late in the set and despite Pepperdine's attempt to stay close, the opposition came away with a 25-20 set win for a 1-0 match-advantage.

Pepperdine came out strong in the second set and never let up. A block from Gross and Lyons started the festivities and smashes from Dyer and Frohling kept it going. After a 10-10 tie, the Waves went on a 8-1 run with another Gross, Lyons block collaboration and a strong service effort from Frohling. Late in the set, the Waves worked ahead to 20-12 advantage with an ace from Lishman. The Waves shut the set down 25-16 with a Gross, Dyer block effort and a kill from Lyons to tie the match 1-1.

Out of the break, the Waves came out swinging big, but the San Diego offensive was strong. The Toreros worked ahead to a 16-9 lead late in the set and despite a Waves comeback attempt, the home team was unable to overcome the gap. USD took the 25-20 set win for a 2-1 lead heading into set four.

In the fourth set, the Waves and Toreros stayed neck-and-neck throughout, with the Waves taking the first lead at the 11-7 mark after Harris and O'Harra put up a block collaboration. USd tied the set at 12's and went ahead themselves at 17-13. Pepperdine, fueled by Gross and Harris on the attack and a Frohling, O'Harra block connection tied the set at 18-18 and continued to roll. After a 21-21 tie, the Waves went on a run started by an ace from Sato and a pair of kills from Frohling for the 25-22 set win to force the fifth set.

With the match tied 2-2, San Diego came out firing in the fifth, working ahead to a 9-3 advantage early on. Despite the Waves attempt to close the gap including kills from Gross, Lyons and Frohling, the opposition had the momentum and shut the set down 15-7 for the five-set WCC victory.

NEXT UP

Next week, the Waves hit the road for Saint Mary's and Pacific on October 26 and 28. All matches will stream live on TheW.tv.

Follow the Waves on Facebook and Twitter, @WavesVolleyball, and follow the team on Instagram, @peppvolley. Get all the most recent schedules, results and more on www.PepperdineWaves.com.

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