Pepperdine University women’s volleyball secured a 3-1 triumph over UC Santa Barbara at home in Malibu on September 18, 2026. The Waves won sets 25-19, 15-25, 25-20, and 25-19 to improve their record to 7-3 overall in the West Coast Conference.
Outside hitter Maggie Beauer led Pepperdine with 14 kills, while Mariia Nikol Dvornikova contributed 11. Defensively, Laine Briggs recorded 15 digs and Charis Kai added nine. Ella Piskorz led all players with six blocks and also contributed seven kills and one service ace. Pepperdine totaled 47 digs compared to 45 for UC Santa Barbara.
The match drew 658 fans, marking the highest home attendance for Pepperdine against a non-ranked opponent since November 2023. Head Coach Scott Wong praised the atmosphere and the team’s grit as the match intensified.
After dropping the second set 15-25, Pepperdine responded by capturing the next two sets to clinch the match. The Waves will face No. 19 USC on September 19, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. Pacific in a challenging road matchup.
CSB Take
This victory highlights Pepperdine University women’s volleyball’s resilience and balanced team effort on both offense and defense. Maggie Beauer’s leadership contributed significantly to the Waves’ offensive success, while strong defensive play helped secure the win. The robust home crowd turnout signals growing fan engagement, which may provide valuable momentum as Pepperdine faces ranked teams like USC moving forward.
Source: Original report
