MANOA, HAWAI'I – The #4 Pepperdine beach volleyball team split the final day of the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Beach Classic on Sunday afternoon, sweeping past WCC opponent Saint Mary's before falling to defending national champions and top-ranked UCLA to close the season-opening tournament at Queen's Beach.
 
The Waves court four pair, Maddie Dilfer and Alexis Filippone won both of their matches, while also winning all four matches they have played this weekend.  Pepperdine's duo handed the Bruins their first match-loss of the season thus far, as they swept through day one of action.
 
Pepperdine ends opening weekend 3-1 overall, with two top-ranked victories and three matches against top-ranked opponents.  The Waves return home for the home opener on Saturday, March 2 in the Zuma Classic at Zuma Beach.
 
RESULTS
#4 PEPPERDINE 5, SAINT MARY'S 0
1: Brook Bauer/Heidi Dyer (PEPP) def. Lindsey Knudsen/Sarah Chase (SMC) – 21-13, 21-12
2: Gigi Hernandez/Deahna Kraft (PEPP) def. Emily Bible/Lindsey Calvin (SMC) – 21-19, 21-12
3: Jenna Tunnell/Skylar Caputo (PEPP) def. Alexsa Parker/Sienna Young (SMC) – 21-17, 19-21, 15-9
4: Maddie Dilfer/Alexis Filippone (PEPP) def. Jennifer Laird/Morgan Kendrick (SMC) – 21-16, 21-17
5: Nikki Lyons/Katie Gavin (PEPP) def. Chandler Cowell/Selbie Christensen (SMC) – 21-15, 21-12
Order of finish: 5, 4, 2*, 1, 3
 
#4 PEPPERDINE 1, #1 UCLA 4
1: Nicole McNamara/Megan McNamara (UCLA) def. Brook Bauer/Heidi Dyer (PEPP) – 21-17, 22-24, 22-24
2: Lily Justine/Sarah Sponcil (UCLA) def. Skylar Caputo /Deahna Kraft (PEPP) – 21-17, 21-15
3: Zana Muno/Abby Van Winkle (UCLA) def. Jenna Tunnell/Gigi Hernandez (PEPP) – 21-13, 21-11
4: Maddie Dilfer/Alexis Filippone (PEPP) def. Mac May/Savy Simo (UCLA) – 21-19, 21-16
5: Izzy Carey/Megan Muret (UCLA) def. Nikki Lyons/Katie Gavin (PEPP) – 21-15, 21-17
Order of finish: 5, 4, 2, 3*, 1
 
MATCH RECAPS
Pepperdine opened the day strongly against West Coast Conference opponent Saint Mary's, sweeping past the Gaels for the team's third win of the season.  Katie Gavin and Nikki Lyons were the first to finish with a 21-15, 21-12 win over Chandler Cowell and Selbie Christensen on court five.  Maddie Dilfer and Alexis Filippone then closed up shop with a 21-16, 21-17 victory over Jennifer Laird and Morgan Kendrick in the No. 4 position.
 
Gigi Hernandez and Deahna Kraft would be the clinchers in the first match, earning a 21-19, 21-12 win over Emily Bible and Lindsey Calvin for the overall dual win.  The Waves were not done yet, however, as Brook Bauer and Heidi Dyer defeated Lindsey Knudsen and Sarah Chase with a 21-13, 21-12 victory.
 
Jenna Tunnell and Skylar Caputo won their first set 21-17, before the Gaels took a second set 21-19 win to force a third.  The Waves would not be outdone, though, as they prevailed with a 15-9 third set win to finish the day with the first overall sweep of the season.
 
The match against UCLA was closer, however.  Although the Waves won first set on two courts, the Bruins were able to pick up the early advantage.  After UCLA took a win on court five, the Waves countered as Dilfer and Filippone bested Mac May and Savy Simo 21-19, 21-16 on court four to tie the score. 
 
The Bruins then won on courts two and three to take the overall dual win, while the match on court one exended to a third set.  Bauer and Dyer won the first set over Nicole and Megan McNamara 21-17, but the twins forced a third with a 24-22 second set win.  After battling in extra points in the third set en route to a 22-22 tied score, the opposition took the lead and closed the set with a win to finish the dual 4-1 in UCLA's favor.
 
NOTABLES

• The Waves have gone 2-1 against teams ranked in the AVCA Coaches Poll.
• Pepperdine has yet to lose a dual against a team from the West Coast Conference all-time.
• Alexis Filippone and Maddie Dilfer are undefeated on court one after four matches, the only Waves' duo that has not yet lost.  The pair has yet to lose a set.
• Brook Bauer and Heidi Dyer on one and Nikki Lyons and Katie Gavin on five have each won three matches this season thus far.
• All-time, Pepperdine has never been swept in a regular season match.
• The Waves have collected a 26-17 sets record after day one of the 2019 season.

 
NEXT UP
Next, the Waves return home on Saturday, March 2 for the Zuma Classic at Zuma Beach.  Matches begin at 8 a.m. for the day.
 
FOLLOW
Follow @WavesBeachVB on Facebook and Twitter for immediate updates, results and more.  Go to PepperdineWaves.com for all information, releases and schedules.