SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Rachel Ahrens had 19 kills and Shannon Scully had a double-double with 12 kills and 16 digs to help No. 20-ranked Pepperdine to a 25-18, 25-14, 18-25, 25-19 victory over Santa Clara volleyball in Saturday's West Coast Conference match.

Julia Sangiacomo (19 kills/10 digs) and Sophia Tulino (10 kills/10 digs) each had double-doubles for the Broncos who were outhit .206 to .159 in their season finale.

Santa Clara (5-13, 5-13 WCC) was poised to push the match to a fifth set against a team likely bound for the NCAA Tournament.

After trailing by as many as seven, the Broncos pulled within 18-17 in the fourth by scoring eight of 10 with Nani Spaar producing a pair of aces and Sangiacomo contributing two kills. But the Waves halted the rally by tallying five consecutive points and closed out the match on kills from Ahrens and Meg Brown.

The Broncos had chances to take each of the opening two sets. They led the first set 18-17 but Pepperdine (16-3, 15-2) pulled away by scoring the final eight points.

The second set was knotted at 8-all before the Waves, who posted a .290 attack percentage in the frame, scored nine of the next 10 points to take control.

Sangiacomo (six) and Tulino (five) combined for 11 kills to help the Broncos take the third set.

This time it was Santa Clara using a big run to take the momentum. Seven straight points forged the Broncos into a 10-5 advantage. The Waves, who closed the regular season with wins in nine of their last 10, were only able to close within three points in a set Santa Clara hit a blistering .394.

But in the fourth set, the Broncos posted nine of their 22 attack errors in the match leading to just a .031 hitting percentage.

Michelle Shaffer had eight digs and 33 assists for the Broncos who had 10.5 total team blocks in the match.

HIGHLIGHTS | One final ride - check out the best action from Saturday's season finale matchup against Pepperdine!#StampedeTogether #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/GUDD9dtqlS

— Santa Clara Volleyball (@scuvolleyball) April 4, 2021

��️ Hear from @Coach_ELindsey on tonight's season finale match against Pepperdine.

Postmatch interview presented by @ROATweets.#StampedeTogether #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/dOL7iMiTKh

— Santa Clara Volleyball (@scuvolleyball) April 4, 2021

NOTES

• Pepperdine leads the all-time series 46-33 (first meeting 1982) and has won the last six between the teams.

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