MALIBU, Calif. — The University of San Diego Toreros women’s volleyball team overcame a two-set deficit to defeat the Pepperdine Waves 3-2 on November 12, 2026, at Firestone Fieldhouse. The Toreros completed a comeback with set scores of 21-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-17, and 17-15, extending their winning streak to eight matches and avenging an earlier loss to Pepperdine.
Senior outside hitter Kierstyn Barton led the Toreros with a match-high 24 kills and 16 digs. Freshman Emma Brewer contributed a well-rounded performance including nine kills, 10 digs, and five aces, while sophomore libero Lauren Lynch led all players with 23 digs. Redshirt senior middle blocker BayLea Sparks added 11 kills with a .500 hitting percentage, and junior setter Kylie Munday recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 42 assists and 18 digs.
After falling behind 0-2, San Diego rallied with an eight-point run early in the third set, highlighted by a serving streak from Lynch and key kills from senior middle blocker Meghan Scholz. The Toreros steadily built momentum, out-hitting Pepperdine .223 to .096 over the final three sets, and finished with a season-high 11 aces. The victory improved San Diego to 15-8 overall, 10-3 in West Coast Conference play, and 7-1 on the road.
The nationally televised match on ESPNU marked San Diego’s first win this season after trailing 0-2, and their first five-set conference victory since November 15, 2025. The Toreros will continue their road trip against Loyola Marymount University at Gersten Pavilion on November 14, with first serve scheduled for 1 p.m. and the match streaming on ESPN+.
CSB Take
San Diego’s comeback victory highlights the team’s resilience and growing depth as they push deeper into the West Coast Conference title race. Kierstyn Barton’s leadership and Murray’s consistent setting have been key factors behind the Toreros’ eight-match winning streak. Maintaining this momentum in upcoming road matches will be crucial as San Diego seeks to improve its postseason positioning. Their ability to perform under pressure against top conference rivals like Pepperdine bodes well for their chances in the final stretch of the season.
Source: Original report
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