MALIBU, Calif. -- After dropping the first two sets Saturday night, the Arizona volleyball team battled back to tie its match with Pepperdine, but the 13th-ranked Waves pulled out the deciding fifth set to hand the Wildcats a 3-2 loss (20-25, 23-25, 25-20, 25-20, 12-15) and win the Pepperdine Asics Classic title.
Pepperdine improved to 4-1 on the season while dropping Arizona to 3-2. The Wildcats outhit the Waves .244 to .228 on the night and outblocked them 14-7. However, Pepperdine connected on 13 more kills than Arizona.
Chanel Brown, Madi Kingdon and Taylor Arizobal each recorded a double-double to lead the Wildcats. Brown dished out 51 assists from her setter position while also adding 13 digs and three kills. Kingdon recorded her third double-double of the year with 23 kills and 15 digs. Meanwhile, Arizobal connected on 14 kills to go along with 11 digs and a match-high four service aces. Brown and Kingdon were named to the all-tournament team.
Freshman Halli Amaro recorded double-digit kills for the second straight night, finishing with 11 kills, five digs and five blocks. Junior libero Candace Nicholson finished with a team-high 19 digs to lead the Arizona defense.
