Thursday, November 5
Moraga, Calif.
6:30 pm PT
Pepperdine University
19-4,11-1WCC
3
at
1
Saint Mary's
14-10,9-3WCC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperdine | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 3 |
| Saint Mary's (CA) | 22 | 28 | 25 | 18 | 1 |
Photo by: Morgan Davenport
11/5/2026 10:33:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MORAGA, Calif. - The calendar flipped to November and the intensity cranked up a notch as Pepperdine women's volleyball (19-4, 11-1 WCC) downed Saint Mary's (14-10, 9-3 WCC) three sets to one.
The Waves didn't have the best offensive flow at times but spread the love as five players recorded nine or more kills, including Ella Piskorz (team-high 11), Chloe Pravednikov and Mariia Nikol Dvornikova (10 each), and Irelynd Lorenzen and Maggie Beauer (nine each). The number three was the magic number for Piskorz as she tallied three solo blocks and three digs on the night. Laine Briggs and Tristen Raymond recorded 21 and 13 digs, respectively.
"Wow, what a match!" exclaimed Wong after the match. "Our team started with a fight and kept on getting after it throughout the entire match. Proud of the team that we are becoming as there has been so much growth, and we're not done yet."
The first set was a foreshadow for how the match would play out. Pepperdine would weed its way out of a back-and-forth start by going on a 4-1 spurt capped by a Dvornikova kill that put the Waves ahead 13-8. Saint Mary's had other plans and rallied back behind a 8-1 run to grab a 16-14 advantage, only for Pepperdine to answer on another Dvornikova kill to tie things at 18 apiece. The blue and orange collectively stepped up on defense, forcing the Gaels into three attack errors down the stretch, before the reigning WCC Freshman of the Week in Dvornikova put the icing on the cake with a kill, and Pepperdine took set one 25-22.
It was more rinse and repeat in set three, and despite Pepperdine getting ahead 14-9, the Gaels pulled within two at 18-16 once Dent annihilated a kill. A 6-0 run for Saint Mary's soon followed, as Caroline Formankova had a service ace with Kelnarova and Anaya Thrower tacking on more kills, and the Gaels led 22-20. The Waves started to rise in response, and a triumphant 5-1 answer resulted in a 27-25 set win and a 2-1 lead for Pepperdine. The blue and orange had their backs against the wall down 25-24, but a Gaels service error and two consecutive outstanding defensive plays forced attack errors to secure the victory.
Saint Mary's took an early lead in the fourth frame but it didn't last long. Facing a 5-7 deficit, a 14-4 sprung the Waves to an 18-11 advantage. The Gaels tried to come back one last time but a kill and service ace from Raymond put the dagger in a resounding 3-1 win for the Waves.
GAME NOTES
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.
TICKETS
For more information on ticket packages and to purchase tickets for upcoming home events, visit here.
FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine women's volleyball news, follow the Waves on social media: @PepperdineWVB on Twitter/X, @pepperdinewvb on Instagram, and Pepperdine Women's Volleyball on Facebook.
The Waves didn't have the best offensive flow at times but spread the love as five players recorded nine or more kills, including Ella Piskorz (team-high 11), Chloe Pravednikov and Mariia Nikol Dvornikova (10 each), and Irelynd Lorenzen and Maggie Beauer (nine each). The number three was the magic number for Piskorz as she tallied three solo blocks and three digs on the night. Laine Briggs and Tristen Raymond recorded 21 and 13 digs, respectively.
"Wow, what a match!" exclaimed Wong after the match. "Our team started with a fight and kept on getting after it throughout the entire match. Proud of the team that we are becoming as there has been so much growth, and we're not done yet."
The first set was a foreshadow for how the match would play out. Pepperdine would weed its way out of a back-and-forth start by going on a 4-1 spurt capped by a Dvornikova kill that put the Waves ahead 13-8. Saint Mary's had other plans and rallied back behind a 8-1 run to grab a 16-14 advantage, only for Pepperdine to answer on another Dvornikova kill to tie things at 18 apiece. The blue and orange collectively stepped up on defense, forcing the Gaels into three attack errors down the stretch, before the reigning WCC Freshman of the Week in Dvornikova put the icing on the cake with a kill, and Pepperdine took set one 25-22.
Set number two wasn't a whole lot different, with the exception to extra points being needed. Neither squad could lead by more than two until the Waves went on a quick 3-0 run as Pravednikov and Lorenzen chipped in with a kill, adding on to an attack error from Antonie Kelnarova to go up a field goal at 18-15. Saint Mary's would again not go away easily, responding with a 4-0 run to knot the set at 20 following a kill from Layne Dent. The Gaels and Waves would latch arms and not let go, as another kill from Dent forced extra points. Kelnarova crushed a couple kills in the waning moments, and Saint Mary's took set two, 28-26.Waves on Waves on Waves 🌊🌊🌊 Thanks @PepperdineMWP for your GREAT support tonight - made the victory even more memorable‼️ #MakeWaves | @PepperdineWaves https://t.co/GUDvXeBsf3
— Pepperdine Women's Volleyball (@PepperdineWVB) November 6, 2026
It was more rinse and repeat in set three, and despite Pepperdine getting ahead 14-9, the Gaels pulled within two at 18-16 once Dent annihilated a kill. A 6-0 run for Saint Mary's soon followed, as Caroline Formankova had a service ace with Kelnarova and Anaya Thrower tacking on more kills, and the Gaels led 22-20. The Waves started to rise in response, and a triumphant 5-1 answer resulted in a 27-25 set win and a 2-1 lead for Pepperdine. The blue and orange had their backs against the wall down 25-24, but a Gaels service error and two consecutive outstanding defensive plays forced attack errors to secure the victory.
Saint Mary's took an early lead in the fourth frame but it didn't last long. Facing a 5-7 deficit, a 14-4 sprung the Waves to an 18-11 advantage. The Gaels tried to come back one last time but a kill and service ace from Raymond put the dagger in a resounding 3-1 win for the Waves.
GAME NOTES
- Lorenzen's .412 hit percentage is the fifth-highest this season (minimum 10 attacks).
- Pepperdine stuffed Saint Mary's offense to a .115 hitting percentage.
- Pepperdine suffocated Saint Mary's to a -0.028 hitting percentage in set four.
- The Waves had a slight edge in points (71-69) and digs (54-53).
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.
TICKETS
For more information on ticket packages and to purchase tickets for upcoming home events, visit here.
FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine women's volleyball news, follow the Waves on social media: @PepperdineWVB on Twitter/X, @pepperdinewvb on Instagram, and Pepperdine Women's Volleyball on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
OH/OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballTeam Stats
PEP
SMC
Kills
51
54
Errors
22
36
Attempts
137
157
Hitting %
.212
.115
Points
71.0
69.0
Assists
47
50
Aces
5
5
Blocks
15
10
Game Leaders
Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
3
