Box Score
No. 14 Waves Take WCC Opener from Pilots
MALIBU, Calif. --- Three Pilots hit over .400 and Portland recorded seven service aces, but the Portland Pilots opened West Coast Conference play with a 3-1 loss to 14th-ranked Pepperdine Waves Saturday at the Firestone Fieldhouse by scores of 25-22, 25-22, 16-26, and 25-14.
Junior outside hitter Autumn Wedan led the Pilots (6-9, 0-1 WCC) with 14 kills on just 20 swings (.550), while middle blockers Rachel Femling and Bea Loper also enjoyed success against the Waves (10-4, 1-1 WCC). Femling had three blocks, adding a season-high 10 kills on a .471 attacking percentage while Loper contributed seven kills (.429) with four blocks.
"I was proud of our effort and execution tonight," Portland head coach Joe Houck said following the match. "We served tough and got everyone involved in the offense. Our defense and blocking were well connected, but playing a top twenty team on the road you need to do almost everything right. The road in this conference will test any team."
With a dispersed attack, Portland generated a team rhythm that befuddled the Waves in the third set. A Pepperdine error gave the Pilots a 5-4 lead and started the run, followed by a kill from Wedan.
Sophomore Jacky Rodriguez then served up an ace and Loper deposited an attack into the open court to keep the run rolling. Pepperdine’s timeout did nothing to slow the Pilots as Wedan picked up another kill and Jordan posted her first ace of the match. Femling and fellow senior Ariel Usher would add kills of their own, expanding Portland’s lead to 18-7.
In the first set, Portland sidedout with a kill from Wedan for a 6-3 lead. Freshman setter Lexi Dempsey subbed into the rotation to serve, rifling three straight service aces after a Harris kill to expand Portland’s lead to 10-3.
As Pepperdine inched closer, Wedan took control with four kills in the span of five points and forcing Pepperdine to use its final timeout. The Waves proceeded on a long run to turn a 16-9 Pilots lead into a first set victory.
Portland returns to action on Monday night with a 7 p.m. match at Saint Mary’s in Moraga, Calif., before returning home for the WCC home opener next Thursday against Gonzaga.
