#9 Waves Prep for Pepperdine Invite

Sunday, March 7

Malibu, Calif.

10:00 a.m. PT

Pepperdine University

Long Beach State

Photo by: John McGillen

3/4/2021 11:29:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball

By: by Athletic Communications

MALIBU, Calif. – The #9 Pepperdine beach volleyball team is set to host the Pepperdine Invite on Sunday, featuring local competitors #3 USC and #17 Long Beach State.

DUAL 3: Sunday (March 7) in Malibu, Calif.: #9 Pepperdine vs. #17 Long Beach State at 10 a.m. PT.

DUAL 4: Sunday (March 7) in Malibu, Calif.: #9 Pepperdine vs. #3 USC at 2 p.m. PT.

COVERAGE: All matches played in Malibu will have live tweeting available @WavesBeachVB. Additionally, go to PepperdineWaves.com for recaps, results, updates and more.

HOME ATTENDANCE — Per the current COVID-19 guidelines set by the state of California and Los Angeles County, fans will not be permitted to attend home games.

LOOKING AHEAD: Next week, the Waves make the short trip to #4 UCLA on Thursday before returning to Malibu to host #6 Cal Poly on Sunday.

WAVES WEATHER: Sunday's forecast reads cloudy with a high of 61˚ and winds blowing South, Southeast at 11 mph.

WAVE REPORT: The Waves have only gone head-to-head with USC this season, dropping both contests 4-1 and 5-0. On court four, Jordan Benoit and Mary Sinclair won their matchup in three sets. Pepperdine also took set wins on courts one in the first match last week.

Pepperdine returns 13 players to the sand this year, with six starters on the squad as well. Those returning include graduate student Carly Skjodt, seniors Brook Bauer, Alexis Filippone and Katie Gavin, juniors Melanie Paul, Michaela Kasper, Maddy Bailey, Simone Priebe and Peyton Lewis and sophomores Brigid Rasmussen, Mary Sinclair, Sutton Mactavish and Alisa Leeds.

Also joining the ranks for each of their true freshman campaign are Jordan Benoit, Cameron Baklenko, Gracie Pedersen, Cameron Dueck, Calista Wright and Kristine Briede.

OPPONENT NOTES: All-time, the Waves have gone 13-15 against the Trojans, dating back to 2012 when Pepperdine won the first-ever matchup 3-2. The Waves then won six-straight before USC took their first win in 2014. In the last two seasons, USC has gone 4-1 against Pepperdine with the Waves winning their last match in 2019 with a 3-2 win at Zuma Beach.

This season, the Trojans have gone 2-0 with the two wins against the Waves. USC will face off with Cal Poly and UCLA prior to making the trip to Malibu this weekend.

The Waves have gone 21-3 against Beach all-time, dating back to 2012 when Pepperdine won 3-2 on the road before going on a eight-match winning streak. Pepperdine went on another nine-match streak from 2016 through 2019, while LBSU won the most recent matchup 3-2 at Zuma Beach in 2020 before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beach has gone 1-1 this season, facing off with Stanford last week and splitting the contests with a 3-2 win and a 4-1 loss. LBSU will face Vanguard and PCH Cup rival LMU this week before making the journey to Malibu on Sunday.

PRESEASON POLLS AND ACCOLADES: Five Waves were tabbed to the West Coast Conference preseason squad, with Brook Bauer earning her third-straight preseason honor. Alexis Filippone, Melanie Paul, Simone Priebe and Carly Skjodt also garnered a spot on the WCC All-Preseason team. Only three teams had players earn a spot on the squad, while the only other school to place five on as well was PCH Cup rival LMU.

Pepperdine heads into the season ranked #10 in the AVCA Coaches Poll and was selected to finish 2^nd in the conference by the WCC Head Coaches this season.

FOLLOW: Follow @WavesBeachVB on Facebook and Twitter for updates and check on PepperdineWaves.com for full results, recaps and more. Follow @peppbeachvolley on Instagram for an inside look at the Waves' team culture and check out @PepperdineWaves for the scoop on all the Waves' programs throughout the year.