SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara volleyball started fast with a second win this season over a ranked team in sight, but No. 23 Pepperdine was able to rally for a five-set victory in the West Coast Conference matchup.

The Waves knocked off the Broncos 21-25, 25-27, 25-21, 25-23, 15-13 on Saturday.

Rachel Ahrens had a double-double with a match-high 28 kills and 10 digs, and Meg Brown had 14 kills for Pepperdine (10-1 2-0), which outhit the Broncos .244 to .232, including .264 to .176 in the final three sets.

Sophia Tulino registered a career-high 23 kills, and Michelle Shaffer (13 kills/11 digs) and Julia Sangiacomo (12 kills/10 digs) each had double-doubles for Santa Clara (4-8, 0-2) in the nearly three-hour long match.

The Broncos, who knocked off then No. 24-ranked South Carolina earlier this month, controlled the net, posting a season-high 16.5 total team blocks to 7.0 for the Waves who carried momentum from wins in third and fourth sets into the final one.

Pepperdine scored the first four points, but Santa Clara tallied five of the next six and eventually forged into a 9-8 lead on back-to-back combo blocks from Shaffer and Anna Stucchi. But after the Broncos jumped ahead 13-10, the Waves answered with the final five points to finish off their fourth-straight win. Brown had one kill, Ahrens followed with a pair and the match ended on a pair of Santa Clara errors.

NOTES

• In the opening set, the Broncos had a point overturned so instead of a 22-19 lead it was just 21-20, but they scored four of the final five points. Sophia Tulino had six kills and Michelle Shaffer chipped in four. They duo combined for .353 hitting percentage in the set.
• The second set featured an astounding 20 ties and nine lead changes. The Broncos pulled ahead 21-20 on the final lead change on a service ace by Ann Stucchi.
• Pepperdine controlled the third set until late. It led 17-7 before the Broncos used a 7-2 run to close within 24-21, but Ahrens ended the it with her 12th and final kill of the set.
• The Waves rallied past the Broncos in the fourth set, erasing a 21-18 lead with a 6-1 scoring run. A kill by Grace Chikkingsworth sent the match to a fifth set where the Waves held a .278 to .121 hitting advantage.
• Stucchi had a career-high six service aces and Alex Anthony had a season-high 9.0 blocks. Stucchi's 7.0 blocks were just shy of her career-high 9.0 posted against Oregon State (Sept. 17, 2021).
• Pepperdine now holds a 47-33 all-time lead in the series, including wins in the last seven.

.@Coach_ELindsey recaps Saturday's match against Pepperdine. pic.twitter.com/2tGkh0JGhk

— Santa Clara Volleyball (@scuvolleyball) September 26, 2021

NEXT UP

The Broncos have a busy week of league matches coming up. They play at Saint Mary's on Tuesday (7 p.m.) then face BYU on Thursday (6 p.m.) and San Diego on Saturday (1 p.m.).

CONNECT WITH THE BRONCOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Athletics: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Snapchat
Volleyball: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram