Beach Volleyball Drops 3-2 Thriller to #18 Arizona

Friday, March 10

Malibu, Calif.

11:00 a.m. PT

Pepperdine University

Arizona

Photo by: Sarah Otteman

3/10/2023 2:36:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball

Results Photo Gallery

By: by Athletic Communications

MALIBU, Calif. – Heavy rainfall plagued the day as the #17 Pepperdine beach volleyball team faced off with #18 Arizona at the Pepperdine Beach Volleyball Courts on Friday afternoon, and though the Waves had the edge after the first flight, the opposition would win 3-2.

Kate Clermont and Savannah Standage dominated court two for the first win of the day. It's the pair's fifth-straight win and they remain undefeated heading into the rest of the weekend. Gracey Campbell and Gabriella Perez also fought for a three-set victory in the No. 4 position for their fourth win in five duals this season thus far.

After the Waves (3-2) won two courts to take a lead in the first flight, however, the Wildcats (6-2) flipped the script to win three in the second flight and pick up the dual victory.

Tomorrow, the Malibu Invite will continue with matches at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., though Pepperdine will only play the first dual of the day against North Florida.

RESULTS
#18 Arizona def. #17 Pepperdine, 3-2

Sarah Blacker/Alex Parkhurst (UA) def. McKenna Thomas/Alexus McLeod (PEPP) – 21-16, 17-21, 16-14
Savannah Standage/Kate Clermont (PEPP) def. Hope Shannon/Abby Russell (UA) – 21-15, 21-17
Grace Cook/Alana Rennie (UA) def. Jasmin Suarez/Gracie Pedersen (PEPP) – 19-21, 21-15, 11-15
Gracey Campbell/Gabriella Perez (PEPP) def. Caroline White/Kylee Fitzsimmons (UA) – 21-16, 19-21, 15-11
Miranda Erro/Annie Kost (UA) def. Jordan Benoit/Juju Quintero (PEPP) – 21-18, 21-11

Exh. Kristine Briede/Madison Oriskovich (PEPP) def. Kali Uhl/Dilara Gedikoglu (UA) – 21-18, 21-17
Order of Finish: 2, 4, 5, 1, 3*

MATCH RECAPS
In the first flight, the Waves took no prisoners, beginning with a solid 21-15, 21-17 set win in the No. 2 position for Savannah Standage and Kate Clermont. Gracey Campbell and Gabriella Perez then worked back from an early deficit in the first set to win 21-16, before Arizona countered with a 21-19 win in the second set to force a third. Pepperdine's pair refused to roll over, however, comfortably maintaining the lead in the final set to win 15-11 and put the home squad in a position to clinch.

The Waves No. 6 pair also took care of business, 21-18, 21-17, though the win would not count for the overall score. It was a different story in the next flight, though, as Arizona would get on the board with a two-set win in the No. 5 position.

Pepperdine's duo on court one battled through a 21-16 first set loss to win 21-17 and force a third, but after going point-for-point through 14-all. The Wildcats duo would be the ones to take the win 16-14 in the set to tie the match 2-2. In the No. 5 position, both pairs were battling it out and though the Waves won the first set 21-19, Arizona would take the following two 21-15, 15-11 to clinch the dual.

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