SAN DIEGO — A tied-for-season-high 14 kills from Kylie Pries on Saturday afternoon wasn't enough for San Diego volleyball (11-8, 7-2 WCC) to stave off a sweep from Pepperdine, dealing the Toreros their second West Coast Conference loss of the season as they dropped a 3-0 decision to the Waves (13-6, 9-0 WCC) at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

USD came out on the wrong side of a hard-fought 26-24 first set, then fell 25-16 in the second. San Diego established a six-point lead midway through the third frame but couldn't hang on and extend the match, suffering a 25-21 defeat as it fell in straight sets for the first time in WCC play this year.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set - Pepperdine, 26-24

• Pepperdine scored back-to-back points to begin Saturday afternoon's match, but San Diego rallied to take a 4-3 lead after putting together an early 3-0 run.
• The two teams battled back and forth as the set got underway, with neither squad taking more than a one-point lead before ending up tied at 9-9.
• Two kills from the Waves and a Pepperdine block then pushed the visiting team back in front, 12-9.
• Pries helped San Diego recover with back-to-back kills of her own to tie the score once again, this time at 12-12.
• Aided by clutch kills from Amber Stivrins and Leyla Blackwell, more deadlocks ensued at 13-13 and 14-14.
• A Pepperdine service ace and USD attack error prompted the Toreros to take their first timeout of the frame while trailing 16-14.
• USD was down by as many as four down the stretch before a kill from Pries, a combo block from Pries and Stoner, and a Wave attack error brought San Diego back within one, forcing Pepperdine to take a timeout of its own while clinging to a slim 18-17 lead.
• The Toreros stayed within one when Pries found her mark again at 19-18, but Pepperdine surged ahead with two straight points to make it 21-18.
• Pries came up big again with a kill to cut the deficit to 22-20, then back-to-back errors from the Waves tied the score at 22 and prompted the visitors to take another timeout.
• Stivrins made sure San Diego came out of the break strong, putting USD ahead 23-20 with a powerful kill before Pepperdine fought back and tied it themselves.
• USD had a chance to seal the set while leading 24-23, but the Waves closed the frame with a 3-0 run, securing a 26-24 win as they pulled ahead 1-0 in the match.

Second Set - Pepperdine, 25-16

• Saturday afternoon's second set began with more back-and-forth play, culminating in a 3-3 tie early on.
• Pepperdine surged ahead with three straight points out of the tie, taking a 6-3 lead after a San Diego attack error.
• USD continued to trail through the midpoint of the frame, and faced a five-point deficit at 16-11 following a block from the Waves.
• The Waves' lead dwindled to three when Pries recorded a kill, but Pepperdine closed the frame on an 8-2 run to take a 25-16 decision in set two.

Third Set - Pepperdine, 25-21

• After being tied with the Waves early on at 4-4 in the third, San Diego surged ahead to take an 8-4 lead.
• That USD advantage stretched to six at 12-6 when Madi Allen notched a service ace and Blackwell hammered a kill, prompting Pepperdine to take its first timeout of the set.
• Three straight Pepperdine points got the Waves back within three before Stivrins restored order and recorded back-to-back kills to make it 14-9.
• Things stayed close down the stretch, with Pepperdine pulling within two at 18-16 ahead of a kill from Pries that made it 19-16 in her team's favor.
• The Waves got back within one at 19-18 on a kill, but Blackwell and Beach stood strong with an authoritative combo block, moving the score to 20-18.
• A 4-0 scoring run from Pepperdine pushed it ahead 22-20 before Blackwell responded yet again, this time with a powerful kill to make it 22-21.
• Pepperdine finished with another flurry of points to secure a 25-21 win in the set and a 3-0 sweep in the match.

TORERO TIDBITS

• Pries hit a team-high .290 as she added 10 digs to record her second double-double of the season.
• Stoner and Blackwell each totaled four blocks, with Blackwell adding the Toreros' lone solo effort of the afternoon.
• Olivia Bennett tied her career high with 13 digs and tied the team high with a pair of service aces.
• Isadora Tercariol led USD with 21 assists alongside four digs and three block assists.
• Allen recorded eight digs and tied Bennett for the team high with two service aces of her own.

UP NEXT
The Toreros will remain at home next week to host Loyola Marymount for a nationally televised (ESPNU) matchup. First serve at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on Thursday night is set for 7:30 p.m.