MALIBU, Calif. – After taking the match to five sets against #7 Loyola Chicago, Pepperdine was unable to complete a reverse sweep, falling to the Ramblers, 2-3.
It was a gritty back-and-forth match between the two top-ten opponents, with the Waves posting 15-25, 23-25, 25-19, 31-29, and 12-15 set scores. Freshman, Cole Hartke posted a new career-high 24 kills, on a .475 hitting percentage, leading the attack for Pepperdine, while also posting six digs and two blocks, including a solo denial. Setter, Gabe Dyer led playmaking for the Waves, tabbing 35 assists, four digs, and a block. James Eadie also tallied a team-high four blocks, along with five kills and two digs.
Although Pepperdine had a home-court advantage, Loyola Chicago boasted a rowdy crowd that traveled to support their SoCal athletes. It was Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night in Firestone, and Pepperdine staff rallied to support Waves volleyball.
BIG WAVES
Gabe Dyer (Gr./San Clemente, Calif./ Saddleback Valley Christian School/ UCSD): 35 assists, 4 digs, 1 block
Cole Hartke (Fr./Barrington, Ill./Barrington HS): 24 kills, .475 hitting %, 6 digs, 2 blocks
James Eadie (R-So./Newport Beach, Calif./ Newport Harbor HS): 5 kills, 4 blocks, 2 digs
Jacob Reilly (Jr./Cyprus, Texas/Cy-Fair HS/ CUI): 6 digs, 27 service-receptions
WAVES VS. RAMBLERS
PEPPERDINE ATTACK BY SET
Set K E TA Pct
1 7 5 20 .100
2 8 4 16 .250
3 13 3 22 .455
4 16 4 33 364
5 5 5 16 .000
TTL 49 21 107 .262
LOYOLA CHICAGO ATTACK BY SET
Set K E TA Pct
1 13 1 20 .600
2 14 4 23 .435
3 11 2 22 .409
4 17 4 33 .394
5 8 3 14 .357
TTL 63 14 112 .438
PLAY-BY-PLAY
Throughout the first set, Pepperdine struggled offensively to get kills, with six out of seven coming from freshman, Cole Hartke. The Ramblers and Waves were only tied three times throughout the set, and Loyola Chicago was able to hit a .600 percentage, while also tabbing three service aces. Pepperdine was kept to a .262 success rate, which allowed the Ramblers were able to take set one, 25-15.
During the second set, the Waves improved their attacking, with Hartke and Ethan Watson each adding three kills apiece. Hartke also had a solo rejection at the net during set two. The Ramblers struggled at the service line, with 11 service errors, but had 14 kills as team. Loyola Chicago won set two, 25-23.
Pepperdine came out dominant during set three, leading the set in kills with 13 on a .455 clip. Hartke and Ryan Barnett each posted five kills, with Barnett also adding two aces from the service line. Jacob Reilly had an error-less seven serve-receptions and two digs to lead the Waves' defense. Pepperdine never gave up its lead in the third set, taking it 25-19.
In an extended fourth set, Pepperdine was evenly matched with Loyola Chicago, going point-for-point. Hartke led the team with seven kills on a .636 success rate, while Barnett also added five of his own. James Eadie tabbed two blocks assisted by Hartke and Barnett, also tallying two kills on three attempts throughout set four. Service errors on both sides of the net would plague set four, sending it to extra points. Ultimately, Pepperdine was able to take set four, 31-29.
Throughout set five, the Waves would attempt to catch up to the Ramblers' attacking efforts, with six ties and three lead changes throughout the set. Hartke tabbed three out of the five Pepperdine kills, while also assisting on a block with Eadie. The Waves dropped set five, 12-15.
UP NEXT
Pepperdine will host #16 CSUN on Feb. 8 and Dominican New York on Feb. 9 in Firestone Fieldhouse.
FOLLOW
Follow the Waves on Facebook and Twitter, @WavesVolleyball, and follow the team on Instagram, @peppvolley. Get all the most recent schedules, results and more on www.PepperdineWaves.com.
