Malibu, California – The Oregon State volleyball team faced a tough challenge against Pepperdine, losing in a thrilling five-set match. The final score was 24-26, 25-23, 23-25, 28-26, and 10-15.
The match was intense, with the two teams trading leads 18 times and tying 44 times overall. Both teams battled hard, pushing three sets beyond the usual 25 points.
Annika Hester and Lauren Rumel led OSU with 28 combined kills. Alana Marrs and Maëli Cormier also made notable contributions with 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Jackie Matias delivered a season-high 34 assists while Emma Lilo added 19 assists to keep the offense alive. On defense, Tia Shum stood out with 17 digs, and Marrs led with six blocks.
The opening set was tightly contested. Pepperdine pulled ahead early, taking a 10-4 lead. Oregon State fought back and tied the game at 24, but the Waves sealed the set with two quick kills.
Set two showcased Oregon State’s teamwork. They maintained momentum and kept Pepperdine’s attacks to just .091 hitting. Hester’s five kills, along with Matias’ seven assists, helped the Beavers win the set 25-23.
In set three, the teams were neck and neck, tied at 22 until Pepperdine ramped up their play, finishing 25-23. The Waves hit .371, while Oregon State struggled with a .150 hitting rate.
Set four was a display of resilience from the Beavers. They trailed by five but rallied back to take the lead at 27-26, eventually winning the set to force a fifth set.
Despite their efforts, the Beavers faltered in the fifth set. They could not maintain their momentum, suffering a 5-0 run from Pepperdine that led to their defeat at 15-10.
Next, Oregon State will travel to Los Angeles to face LMU on Saturday. The game kicks off at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
In volleyball news, the sport has grown significantly in popularity. According to the NCAA, women’s volleyball saw a 22% increase in participation from 2005 to 2019. As more schools recognize the sport’s appeal, we can expect even more exciting matches in the future.
For more on women’s sports growth, check out the NCAA’s statistics here.
