San Luis Obispo, Calif. – The #18 Pepperdine beach volleyball team fell in a pair of hard-fought losses on Sunday afternoon, dropping 3-2 to #12 Cal Poly to open the action before falling 4-1 to #10 Cal.
 
The Waves are now 11-4 overall.  Simone Priebe and McKenna Thomas were undefeated in the No. 2 position throughout the day, taking down both of their opponents in straight sets. 
 
RESULTS
#12 Cal Poly def. #18 Pepperdine, 3-2
1. Tia Miric/Ella Connor (CP) def. Melanie Paul/Madison Shields (PEPP) – 21-17, 17-21, 15-9
2. Simone Priebe/McKenna Thomas (PEPP) def. Jayelin Lombard/Piper Ferch (CP) – 21-15, 21-17
3. Peyton Dueck/Addison Hermstad (CP) def. Mary Sinclair/Kate Clermont (PEPP) – 21-17, 21-14
4. Peyton Lewis/Juju Quintero (PEPP) def. Josie Ulrich/Vanessa Roscoe (CP) – 21-18, 17-21, 15-12
5. Sam Strah/Delaney Peranich (CP) def. Cameron Baklenko/Rio Frohoff (PEPP) – 12-21, 21-12, 15-10
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1, 4, 5*
 
#18 Pepperdine vs. #10 Cal
1. Ana Costa/Mima Mirkovic (CAL) def. Melanie Paul/Madison Shields (PEPP) – 21-10, 21-16
2. Simone Priebe/McKenna Thomas (PEPP) def. Ava Mann/Ainsley Radell (CAL) – 25-23, 21-15
3. Brooke Buchner/Ashley Delgado (CAL) def. Mary Sinclair/Kate Clermont (PEPP) – 21-18, 21-18
4. Lexi McKeown/Ella Dreibholz (CAL) def. Peyton Lewis/Juju Quintero (PEPP) – 21-13, 21-14
5. Natalie Martin/Maya Gessner (CAL) def. Cameron Baklenko/Rio Frohoff (PEPP) – 18-21, 25-23, 18-16
Order of finish: 1, 4, 3*, 2, 5
 
MATCH RECAPS
In the first match, the Waves and Mustangs went head-to-head from start to finish.  Pepperdine collected on three first set wins, but it would be Cal Poly to strike first with a two-set win in the No. 3 position.  The Waves quickly countered with a two-set victory of their own, however, as Simone Priebe and McKenna Thomas downed Jayelin Lombard and Piper French 21-15, 21-17 in the No. 2 position.
 
Courts one, four and five each went into three sets.  After falling behind 21-17 in the first set on court one, Melanie Paul and Madison Shields downed Tia Miric and Ella Connor 21-17 in the second set to force a third.  The opposition would gain the early edge, though, and come away with the next point to make it 2-1 overall. 
 
Peyton Lewis and Juju Quintero split their first two sets in the No. 4 position 21-18, 17-21, but rallied for a solid 15-12 third set win to tie things up.  Cameron Baklenko and Rio Frohoff had won their first set 21-12 in the No. 5 position, but were eventually felled 21-12, 15-10 for the Mustangs to win the overall dual 3-2.
 
In the second match, the opposition grabbed three first sets, and used that momentum to pick up wins on courts one, three and four to take the overall win. 
 
On court two, Priebe and Thomas fought for a 25-23 first set win over Ava Mann and Ainsley Radell.  The duo then used that positive swing to handily take the second set 21-15 to put the Waves on the board.  On court five, Frohoff and Baklenko had won the first set 21-18, but the opposition countered with an extra-innings 25-23 second set victory to force the third.  Each side went nearly point-for-point to a 15-15 tied score, but the Golden Bears were able to gain the edge and come away with an 18-16 third set win to make the overall 4-1.
 
NEXT UP
Next week, the Waves will head up to Santa Cruz, Calif. to compete in the WCC Invitational.  Pool play will begin against San Jose State and Saint Mary's on March 25 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. respectively.  Tournament action will then begin on the following Saturday.

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