MALIBU, Calif. — The Pepperdine women's volleyball team faced off with #21 USC on Friday night, but the Trojans swept the Waves 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-21).
Graduate transfer Riley Simpson led the offense for the Waves, tabbing double-figure kills, marking 13 on a .346 hitting percentage. Senior Grace Chillingworth became the 22nd Wave to surpass 1,000 career kills by adding six kills to help Pepperdine's offense. Senior Trinity Stanger notched 13 digs to lead the Waves' defensive efforts. Junior Rosemary Archer posted 23 assists and two kills as the main playmaker for the squad.
BIG WAVES
Riley Simpson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Rampart HS/Baylor): 13 kills, 1 ace, 1 dig
Birdie Hendrickson (Rogersville, Mo./Logan-Rogersville HS/Florida): 8 kills, 2 service aces, 6 digs
Grace Chillingworth (Tustin, Calif./Foothill HS): 6 kills, 8 digs
Rosemary Archer (Fairview, Texas/Lovejoy HS): 23 assists, 2 kills, 3 aces
Trinity Stanger (Los Angeles, Calif./Viewpoint HS): 11 digs, 2 assists
WAVES VS. TROJANS
USC held a steady pace throughout the match, the team posted 49 kills on a .390 hitting percentage, while also adding three service aces. The Trojans had a .559 clip in the third set, helping the squad to their three-set sweep against the Waves.
PEPPERDINE ATTACK BY SET
Set K E TA Pct
1 9 10 31 -.032
2 11 5 27 .140
3 16 2 35 .400
TTL 36 17 109 .174
USC ATTACK BY SET
Set K E TA Pct
1 11 4 27 .269
2 17 4 40 .325
3 21 2 34 .559
TTL 49 10 100 .390
PLAY-BY-PLAY
A kill from Riley Simpson opened the scoring for the night, followed by an ace from Birdie Hendrickson. A big kill from Kenadie Patterson put the Waves up 3-0. Pepperdine and USC went point-for-point until USC gained momentum and went on a 5-1 run. Pepperdine attack errors would get in the way from that point forward, with USC ultimately taking the first set 25-19.
To start the second set, Rosemary Archer opened scoring for Pepperdine with an ace for the Waves. Although USC pulled ahead, Simpson then added huge back-to-back kills that the Trojans couldn't defend, bringing the score to 6-3 USC. Ella Piskorz found an open spot on the floor to put Pepperdine within two at 7-5, Archer then reached over the net on a Trojan set to tab her first kill of the season. Hendrickson collected her second service ace of the night in two consecutive plays, followed by Chillingworth dishing her sixth smash of the night at 12-11. USC maintained the lead throughout the set, but a solo rejection from freshman Piskorz brought the Waves within one at 17-16. Hendrickson answered a 4-0 Trojan scoring run with a kill, followed by Patterson having a sneaky dump over the net, attempting to close the 22-18 gap for Pepperdine. An ace from Archer at 22-20 would force USC to call a timeout, but the Trojans were able to regroup and take set two, 25-20.
Hendrickson opened the scoring for the Waves in the third set, but USC rallied for the next three points until Simpson delivered a kill. USC rallied for the next three points until Simpson delivered a kill, followed by freshman Maggie Beauer notching her first collegiate kill to pull Pepperdine within three, 9-6. The Trojans had a steady pace throughout the set, but a big block from Piskorz and Chillingworth gave Pepperdine momentum to propel within two at 12-10. The Waves battled, trailing within one for the second half of the set, but a kill from Simpson would tie it at 19. Both teams battled point-for-point until USC won the final set 25-21 to complete the sweep.
NEXT UP
Pepperdine will face USC again tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, Calif. Season tickets are now available for all fall sports, including women's volleyball. Additionally, Pepperdine is offering a Fall All-Sport Pass, which grants admission to all fall home sports including women's soccer, women's volleyball and men's water polo — a $525 retail value for just $150. Learn more and access those exclusive season ticket offers here: gowav.es/peppszntix2425.
FOLLOW
Follow the Waves on Facebook and X, @WavesVolleyball, and follow the team on Instagram, @peppvolley. Get all the most recent schedules, results and more on www.PepperdineWaves.com.
