The Pepperdine University sand volleyball team ended its season on Saturday, May 7, after falling to fourth-seeded UCLA on the second day of the sport’s inaugural NCAA Championship tournament in Gulf Shores, Ala.
The Waves began the tournament with a split first day, defeating Arizona, 3-1, before falling to USC, 3-0. The day’s performances placed them in the elimination bracket against UCLA, where they fought hard but ultimately suffered a tournament-ending, 3-2 defeat.
Saturday’s match started strong with a two-set victory from sophomore Corrinne Quiggle and freshman Skylar Caputo on court three. A UCLA victory on court one tied up the match before the Waves duo Delaney Knudsen and Kaity Bailey pushed ahead with another two-set victory. Two near-simultaneous losses for the Waves then finished off the match.
The Waves ended their season with history-making accomplishments, which include winning the inaugural West Coast Conference Championship title, tying the school record of 20 wins in a single season, becoming one of eight teams to compete in the first-ever NCAA Championship field and finishing the NCAA tournament within the top five.
Three seniors — Taylor Racich, Samantha Cash and Sophie Asprey — will graduate from the team this year.