Malibu, Calif. – The #18 Pepperdine beach volleyball team took care of business for the season's home openers at the Pepperdine Beach Volleyball Courts on Thursday, sweeping past Southern Miss and upsetting #14 Long Beach State 3-2.
 
The Waves are now 2-0 when playing in Malibu and advance the 2022 record to 9-2 overall.  The squad also garnered the first win against a ranked opponent this season with the victory over Beach. 
 
Pepperdine will return to Malibu to host CSU Bakersfield, a team receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches Poll, and Concordia on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
 
RESULTS
#18 Pepperdine def. Southern Miss, 5-0
1. Melanie Paul/Madison Shields (PEPP) def. Breleigh Favre/Kellie Garraway (USM) – 21-7, 21-9
2. Simone Priebe/McKenna Thomas (PEPP) def. Aleksandra Chudzik/Vanessa Hurnikova (USM) – 21-13, 21-16
3. Peyton Lewis/Juju Quintero (PEPP) def. Olivia Hepworth/Taylor Pierce (USM) – 21-15, 21-16
4. Jordan Benoit/Kate Clermont (PEPP) def. Reagan Sandlin/Hallie Phelan (USM) – 21-11, 21-16
5. Cameron Baklenko/Rio Frohoff (PEPP) def. Valeria Siakidou/Kai Norman (USM) – 21-19, 21-19
Exh. Mary Sinclair/Savana Greene (PEPP) def. Melanie Miller/Kaylie Beck (USM) – 21-13, 21-8
Order of finish: 4, 2, 1*, 3, 5
 
#18 Pepperdine def. #14 Long Beach State, 3-2
1. Melanie Paul/Madison Shields (PEPP) def. Skyler Germann/Alice Pratesi (LBSU) – 21-15, 23-21
2. Simone Priebe/McKenna Thomas (PEPP) def. Nicci Reinking/Katie Kennedy (LBSU) – 21-18, 21-14
3. Mary Sinclair/Kate Clermont (PEPP) def. Jillian Rodriguez/Holly Jackson (LBSU) – 21-18, 21-12
4. Sydney Stevens/Claire Newlander (LBSU) def. Peyton Lewis/Juju Quintero (PEPP) – 17-21, 21-17, 15-11
5. Sophie Major/Emily Mattoon (LBSU) def. Cameron Baklenko/Rio Frohoff (PEPP) – 20-22, 21-17, 15-11
Exh. Leah Black/Haley Carrington (LBSU) def. Kristine Briede/Gracie Pedersen (PEPP) – 21-17, 21-14
Order of finish: 2, 4, 1, 5, 3*
 
MATCH RECAPS
The Waves came out strong in the first match, dominating the Golden Eagles on all courts.  In the first flight, Jordan Benoit and Kate Clermont struck first, defeating Reagan Sandlin and Hallie Phelan 21-11, 21-16 in the No. 4 position.  Simone Priebe and McKenna Thomas closed out the flight with a 21-13, 21-16 win over Aleksandra Chudzik and Vanessa Hurnikova in the No. 2 slot.  Mary Sinclair and Savana Greene also made quick work of their opponents on the exhibition court with a 21-13, 21-8 win.
 
It would be the same story in the second flight as well, with Melanie Paul and Madison Shields clinching the overall match with a big 21-7, 21-9 win in the No. 1 position over Breleigh Favre and Kellie Garraway. 
 
Closing out the match for the sweep, Peyton Lewis and Juju Quintero took down Olivia Hepworth and Taylor Pierce 21-15, 21-16 in the No. 3 position and Cameron Baklenko and Rio Frohoff defeated Valeria Siakidou and Kai Norman with a pair of 21-19 sets on court five.
 
The second match of the day was a battle from start to finish.  In the first flight, Priebe and Thomas started things off with a big 21-18, 21-14 win on court two over Nicci Reinking and Katie Kennedy.  Though, the opposition was able to take a three-set win in the No. 4 slot and win the exhibition match as well.
 
Paul and Shields were indestructible on court one for the Waves, putting the advantage to 2-1 overall after defeating Skyler Germann and Alice Pratesi 21-15, 23-21.  Beach countered with a three-set win on court five to make it 2-2 overall and put all eyes on court three.
 
Sinclair and Clermont were up to the task though and feeling confident after having handled Jillian Rodriguez and Holly Jackson 21-18 in the first set.  With the Waves cheering on the sidelines, the Pepperdine duo dominated the second set 21-12 to secure the 3-2 overall victory.
 
NEXT UP
On Saturday, the Waves will host CSU Bakersfield, a team receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches Poll, and Concordia on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. at the Pepperdine Beach Volleyball Courts.  On Sunday, Pepperdine will trek up North for the Cal Poly Invite, challenging #10 Cal at 3 p.m. and #12 Cal Poly at 5 p.m.

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