MALIBU, Calif. — Upsetting a ranked team for the first time since 2022, the Pepperdine women's volleyball team (3-1) was in complete control in a 3-1 victory over No. 19 UCLA (1-1) during the home opener in Firestone Fieldhouse on Tuesday night.

"My favorite part about the match was that it just seemed like it was going to be our match all the way," Head coach Scott Wong said. "The confidence and belief in this group were amazing."

Despite going up against UCLA's revamped block, the Waves' defense ended up recording 12.0 team blocks to the Bruins' 10.0, all while limiting the Bruins to hitting just .172 on the night. Freshman setter Tristen Raymond led the way with nine total blocks, while junior middle blocker Irelynd Lorenzen chipped in five total blocks — including two solo rejections. Raymond also finished with 22 assists and a career-high eight kills, nearly missing a triple-double. On offense, Maggie Beauer led the way with 13 kills. Raymond and fellow setter Brynne McGhie helped six Waves finish with multiple kills.

In a sign of things to come, the Waves never trailed in the first set. With the score tied at five, the Waves sided out off the first of nine kills from Ella Piskorz, which sent Tristen Raymond back behind the service line. The freshman setter teamed up with Piskorz on back-to-back blocks to kickstart a 5-1 run capped off by a kill from Raymond. From there, the Waves held off the Bruins, who pulled within two points on five occasions. A late 3-0 run sparked by another block from Piskorz and Raymond gave Pepperdine a 23-18 lead, then Beauer brought about the first set point at 24-21. UCLA saved two set points but a service error gave the Waves a 25-23 first-set win.

However, the Bruins came back to even the score with a dominant second set, in which an early 5-0 run broke an 8-all tie. Pepperdine got within six points of the Bruins twice, but UCLA finished the set on another 5-0 run, evening the score with a 25-14 win.

The third set was a return to form for Pepperdine, yet it required a comeback to seal the victory. UCLA took an early lead, but a Piskorz kill tied the match at four and sent Emma McMahon back to serve. McMahon helped spark a 4-0 run that included an ace from the senior, two kills from Beauer and another from Raymond to double up the Bruins. Although Pepperdine never trailed, UCLA hung around. Leading 18-16, another kill from Beauer sparked a 5-0 run capped off by an ace from Ryan Gilhooly. Piskorz's fourth kill of the frame sealed the 25-17 blowout win.

Pepperdine controlled the fourth set, leaving no doubt that the Waves would pull off the upset. The Waves never trailed in the fourth set, taking advantage of eight UCLA errors and a big set from Vanessa Polk to pull away for good. The Waves took a 9-5 lead and fended off a mini 3-0 run from the Bruins, then both teams struggled to hold serve for the next five points. UCLA eventually tied the score at 13, but Piskorz helped spark a 4-1 run that gave the Waves the cushion they needed from that point forward. With three kills under her belt in the frame, Polk and Lorenzen teamed up for an emphatic block to take a 20-17 lead that quashed any momentum the Bruins had down the stretch. A kill from Chloe Pravednikov brought about the first match point, then the Waves finished off the Bruins two points later when Laine Briggs found Raymond for a kill.

Tuesday's win was Pepperdine's first ranked win since beating No. 6 Minnesota on Sept. 15, 2022. It was the first win over UCLA since 2011, which also took place in Firestone Fieldhouse.

The Waves head to Pittsburgh to take on No. 9 Pitt on Friday. And all pertinent information can be purchased at pepperdinewaves.com.

 

ABOUT PEPPERDINE WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Pepperdine women's volleyball has reached 26 NCAA Tournaments since 1981 as one of the most successful collegiate programs on the West Coast. The 12-time WCC Champions Waves have consistently produced top talent with 21 All-American selections with honorees in six straight decades. With multiple Olympians going through the program, Kim Hill brought home the program's first gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games.