MALIBU, Calif. – The Pacific volleyball program held a lead in all four sets, but Pepperdine was able to get past the Tigers 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17) on Saturday at Firestone Fieldhouse.
 
Graduate Alexa Edwards led the Tigers (10-4, 0-2 WCC) with 11 kills. Junior Jayhlin Swain registered 18 digs and senior Jenna Heller dished out 32 assists and neared a double-double with nine digs.
 
Pacific was going up against a Pepperdine (5-7, 2-0 WCC) squad that was predicted to win the league in the conference's preseason poll.
 
After dropping the first set 25-17, the Tigers bounced back in the second and jumped out to a 6-2 lead on a kill by junior Emily Van Groningen. Pacific was still ahead 16-12 on a block by Edwards. An ace by graduate Darina Kumanova pushed it to 23-19 and despite the Wave cutting it to 24-23, the Tigers ended the set on a kill by graduate Margherita Giani.
 
The Tigers trailed 10-7 in the third with they came back to tie it 11-11 on a block-assist by Van Groningen and senior Abby Miller. A dump by Heller kept it level at 16-16 when Pepperdine took the next three points to go up 19-16. Pacific was still behind 22-19 when the Wave grabbed the final three points of the frame.
 
Pacific led 9-5 in the fourth after a kill by freshman Alyson Cox. The Tigers were still in front 13-10 after a block-assist by Cox and Giani when the Wave responded with four straight to go up 14-13. The set got away from the Tigers late after conceding a 9-2 run to end the match.
 
The Tigers are playing their first 15 matches away from home including their first three WCC matches. Up next, Pacific will head to San Diego for a 7 p.m. match Thursday. The home opener is slated for Saturday, Oct. 5 at 12 p.m. against Santa Clara.
 
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