Top-Ranked UCLA Defeats Third-Ranked Pepperdine at Home

Wednesday, March 6

Malibu, Calif.

12:00 p.m. PT

Pepperdine University

UCLA

Photo by: Sarah Otteman

Top-Ranked UCLA Defeats Third-Ranked Pepperdine at Home

3/6/2019 3:36:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball

2019 Statistics and Results

By: by Athletic Communications

MALIBU, CALIF. – For only the third time in the Pepperdine beach volleyball team's history, the Waves were defeated at Zuma Beach. This time, by defending national champions and top-ranked UCLA on Wednesday afternoon.

Despite more rainy conditions, both teams took the courts in a three-set format. UCLA (10-0) went ahead 2-0 with wins in the first flight, and continued that momentum against Pepperdine (6-2) towards the uncontested sweep.

RESULTS
#3 PEPPERDINE 0, #1 UCLA 5
ZUMA BEACH | MALIBU, CALIF.
1: Megan McNamara/Nicole McNamara (UCLA) def. Heidi Dyer/Brook Bauer (PEPP) – 21-15, 21-16
2: Lily Justine/Sarah Sponcil (UCLA) def. Deahna Kraft/Gigi Hernandez (PEPP) – 21-17, 21-18
3: Abby VanWinkle/Zana Muno (UCLA) def. Alexis Filippone/Maddie Dilfer (PEPP) – 21-15, 21-18
4: Savvy Simo/Lea Monkhouse (UCLA) def. Jenna Tunnell/Skylar Caputo (PEPP) – 21-17, 21-17
5: Lindsay Sparks/Izzy Carey (UCLA) def. Nikki Lyons/Katie Gavin (PEPP) – 21-11, 21-10
X: Megan Muret/Mac May (UCLA) def. Melanie Paul/Simone Priebe (PEPP) – 17-21, 21-10, 15-8
Order of finish: 4, 2, 5*, 3, 1

MATCH RECAP
In the first flight, courts two, four and six, an exhibition court, took the sand. All teams were neck-and-neck to open the dual, but the Bruins then took slight leads on all courts. UCLA would eventually take the first round completely with two-set wins on both two and four. On the exhibition court, the Waves took the first set 21-17, but then fell in the following two to end the match.

In the second round, UCLA continued with the energy and took first set wins on courts one, three and five. With the 2-0 lead heading into the flight, the Bruins only needed one, and the team would take it on court five in a two-set win to clinch the match. The Waves on courts three and then one fell as well to complete Pepperdine's first ever loss by sweep in the regular season.

NOTABLES

The Waves have gone 3-2 against teams ranked in the AVCA Coaches Poll, with both losses of the season to top-ranked UCLA.
Three pairs have collected five wins this season. Brook Bauer and Heidi Dyer have gone 5-2 in the top-spot. Maddie Dilfer and Alexis Filippone have posted a 5-3 record with a perfect 5-0 output in the No. 4 position. Nikki Lyons and Katie Gavin have put up a 5-2 record, with four wins in the No. 5 position.
The loss was the first regular season sweep against the Waves all-time and only the third time Pepperdine has lost at home since 2012. The Waves have a 45-3 all-time record at home.

NEXT UP
Next, Pepperdine heads to Manhattan Beach to take on #4 Florida State, #6 LSU, #9 Florida International and #19 TCU on Saturday and Sunday.

FOLLOW
Follow @WavesBeachVB on Facebook and Twitter for immediate updates, results and more. Go to PepperdineWaves.com for all information, releases and schedules.