September 12, 2009
#19 PEPPERDINE WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL UPSET BY ARMY IN FIVE SETS
MALIBU, Calif. – The Army women’s volleyball team claimed a five-set upset victory over #19 Pepperdine, 15-25, 25-21, 27-25, 15-25, 15-8, on Saturday night at the Pepperdine Asics Classic in Firestone Fieldhouse.
The Waves lost at home for the first time this season and dropped to 6-2 overall, while the Black Knights improved to 8-2. It was the first-ever meeting between the schools.
Pepperdine lost despite a .253-.211 edge in hitting percentage.
Sophomore outside hitter Lilla Frederick (Huntington Beach, Calif./Cornelia Connelly HS) had a team-high 15 kills for the Waves. Senior outside hitter Rachel Grochmal (Brea, Calif./Brea Olinda HS) had 11 kills and 19 digs. Sophomore opposite Kristen Seaton (Terre Haute, Ind./South Vigo HS) had 12 kills and sophomore middle blocker Kim Hill (Portland, Ore./Portland Christian HS) added 11.
Sophomore libero Stevi Robinson (Hermosa Beach, Calif./Mira Costa HS) had a season-high 24 digs. Senior setter Kiah Fiers (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif./Peninsula HS) collected 49 assists.
Army was led by 16 kills apiece from Ariana Mankus and Rachel Dunn. Six players reached double-figures in digs, with setter Maureen Bannon getting a team-high 17 digs along with 45 assists.
It looked like it might be an easy night for the Waves after the first set. It was tied 6-6 when the Waves scored the next two points to take the lead for good. Then, with the score 8-7, Pepperdine went on a 7-0 run to make it 15-7. Hill had two kills and a block assist and Grochmal had a kill and a service ace during the run. A Robinson service ace ended the set with a 10-point margin. Hill had five kills in the first set as the Waves enjoyed a .385-.158 hitting edge.
The Waves held a small lead for a good portion of the second set, but couldn’t pull away, and that ended up costing them. Pepperdine’s lead was never greater than two points, last at 18-16. But then things came apart, as Army scored the next four points to go up 20-18, which included two kills by Mankus. The Waves retied it at 20-20, but Army reeled off three more points on a Pepperdine service error and attack error and a block by Amanda Rowell and Francine Vasquez. Another Pepperdine attack error eventually ended the set. Dunn had six kills as the Black Knights outhit the Waves .303-.179.
Pepperdine took an early two-point lead in the third set, but Army quickly erased it and went ahead by three at 11-8. The Black Knights went up by four at 17-13 and five at 20-15, and had set point at 24-20. The Waves made things interesting, fighting off four set points and tying the set at 24-24 after an Army service error, a block by Grochmal and Hill, a Knight attack error and a kill by Grochmal. But tied 25-25, Mankus tallied consecutive kills to give Army a 2-1 lead. Mankus had five kills in the set as Army barely outhit Pepperdine .239-.238.
A determined Waves squad came back strong in the fourth set to even the match up. After Army scored the first point, Pepperdine notched the next three and never trailed again. The lead grew to 12-4, and later was 20-10. Seaton had five kills as the Waves hit .367 to Army’s zero (eight kills, eight attack errors).
Pepperdine scored the first two points of the fifth set, but the momentum didn’t carry any further. The teams mostly traded points for a while and the Waves last led at 7-6 after an Army service error. The Black Knights then got a kill from Mankus, then scored three straight points on blocks. Vasquez had a solo block, Mankus and Rowell combined on one, and Vasquez and Rowell assisted on the next. Another Pepperdine attack error made it five Army points in a row and an 11-7 lead. A Pepperdine kill finally stopped the run, but Army scored the match’s final three points on kills by Mankus, Dunn and Vasquez. Army outhit the Waves .444 to zero in the final set.
In the first match on Saturday, Seattle (2-7) defeated UC Riverside (1-7) in three sets, 25-19, 25-17, 25-22.
The tournament concludes on Sunday (Sept. 13) when Army meets Seattle at noon, followed by Pepperdine vs. UC Riverside at 2:30 p.m. Army has won both of its matches at the Asics Classic and can win the title with another victory. Pepperdine and Seattle are 1-1 and UC Riverside is 0-2.
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