Sept. 12, 2008
Final Stats
RENO, Nev. - Junior outside hitter Rachel Lumsden posted a match-high 12 kills and a .435 hitting average to lead 24th-ranked Pepperdine to a 26-24, 25-15, 25-17 sweep of UC Davis in the first match of Nevada's AT&T Invitational collegiate women's volleyball tournament, held at Virginia Street Gym Friday night.
The Aggies end their six-match winning streak, dipping to 6-2 for the season. The Waves, ranked 24th by the American Volleyball Coaches Association and 13th by Volleyball Magazine, improve to 7-0 overall.
Senior Renee Ibekwe was the only UC Davis player with double-figured offensive numbers. She posted 12 kills on 33 swings, while adding eight digs on defense. Junior Tori Hooper had three blocks to lead the Aggie net defense, while junior libero Avreeta Singh patrolled the floor for 13 digs.
UC Davis made a valiant comeback effort in the first set, as Ibekwe had three kills and a block in a string of six unanswered points that transformed a 20-14 hole to a 20-20 tie. The Aggies tied the frame on three more occasions but never took the lead. Freshman outside hitter Lilla Frederick posted a solo block to deliver the win for the Waves.
In the second set, Pepperdine senior Julie Rubenstein had three blocks in a span of four points to help her team break open for a 12-8 lead, then served up six straight to extend the advantage to 21-11. The Waves held that lead to take a 2-0 match lead.
The Aggies fought to within a 14-13 deficit midway through the third set before Rubenstein again ignited her team offensively. She scored two kills and served three consecutive points to help the Waves pull away to a 21-14 lead. UC Davis battled through three match points before Cassi Chamberlain's kill sealed the sweep for Pepperdine.
The AT&T Invitational continues through Saturday. The Aggies open Day 2 action against the host Wolf Pack at noon, then faces Missouri in a 5 p.m. nightcap.
