Nov. 2, 2017

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

MALIBU, Calif. — The Pepperdine women's volleyball team came out strong in Firestone Fieldhouse on Thursday night, commanding the court for a sweeping victory over Portland courtesy of 25-16, 25-19, 25-19 final set scores.

Blossom Sato and Hannah Frohling each had double-doubles throughout the match. Sato's came from 39 assists and 13 digs as she dished out the Waves' offensive to a .318 collective success rate.

BIG WAVES

• Hannah Frohling (Edmond, Okla./Edmond North HS): 17 kills, .371 hitting percentage, 10 digs, 1 ace, 1 block solo
  
• Blossom Sato (Santa Monica, Calif./Santa Monica HS/Mississippi State): 39 assists, 13 digs
  
• Jasmine Gross (Portland, Ore./Jesuit HS): 10 kills, .409 hitting percentage, 4 digs, 3 blocks (2 solos)
  
• Heidi Dyer (San Clemente, Calif./Saddleback Valley Christian HS): 9 kills, .300 hitting percentage, 6 digs, 3 blocks
  
• Jaiden Farr (Peterson, Utah/Morgan HS): 4 aces, 8 digs
  
• Ashley Harris (Petaluma, Calif./Casa Grande HS/Arizona): 5 kills, 2 digs, 1 block
  
• Hana Lishman (Kailua, Hawai'i/Punahou School): 15 digs, 4 assists
  
• Alli O'Harra (Boise, Idaho/Centennial HS): 7 kills, .353 hitting percentage, 4 blocks

WAVES VS. PILOTS

Pepperdine outhit Portland with 48 kills on a .318 clip, compared to 40 kills on a .186 output. The Waves marked 8.0 team blocks, five aces and 45 assists, while the Pilots produced 3.0 team blocks, 39 assists and three aces. Portland posted 65 digs over Pepperdine's 59.

PEPPERDINE ATTACK BY SET

Set K-E-TA (Pct)

1. 18-4-41 (.341)

2. 11-1-30 (.333)

3. 19-2-58 (.293)

TOTAL: 48-7-129 (.318)

PACIFIC ATTACK BY SET

Set K-E-TA (Pct)

1. 11-4-38 (.184)

2. 15-8-35 (.200)

3. 14-4-56 (.179)

TOTAL: 40-16-129 (.186)

PLAY-BY-PLAY

The Waves dominated the first set. After a 3-3 tie early, Pepperdine broke ahead with a 5-1 run with the help of three-consecutive service aces from Farr. The Waves continued to roll late in the set and a 9-6 run courtesy of smashes from Gross and Frohling put the team ahead 19-12. A pair of smashes by Gross in the middle late in the set earned the home team a 25-16 first set win.

With the momentum in the home court Pepperdine worked ahead early in the second, amassing a 19-4 lead including another ace from Farr and solo blocks from Frohling and Gross. Pepperdine held strong and continued towards a 25-19 set win after more kills from Frohling and Gross helped the Waves' effort for a 2-0 lead heading into the break.

Portland put up a fight in the third set, going up 17-14 late in the set before the Waves closed the gap and took over. Kills from Frohling and a block from Dyer an O'Harra tied the set at 17's and kills from Frohling, Dyer and O'Harra continued extending the gap to a 20-17 lead. In the final moments, the Waves pounded down as Sato spread out the offense towards kills from four separate Waves in the last five points for a 25-19 set win and sweeping victory.

NEXT UP

Pepperdine stays at home for a Saturday match-up against Gonzaga at noon in Firestone Fieldhouse. 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.