Richards finished with 15 kills, the most in a match by a SeattleU player this season, along with two block assists and a service ace. Setter Jamie Mellies (Henderson, Nev.) collected 24 assists and nine digs, while Jordan Keller (Mukilteo, Wash.) led the way with six total blocks and libero Emily Deleissegues (Aromas, Calif.) contributed 14 defensive digs.
SeattleU stayed with Pepperdine early in the first set, as an ace from Megan Augustavo (Shoreline, Wash.) tied the set at 6-6. The Waves proceeded to go on a 15-5 run to break the set open. Back-to-back blocks by Keller and Jessica Gunderson (Duvall, Wash.) and a Richards service ace forced Pepperdine into calling timeout, and back-to-back kills by the Waves' Lilla Frederick helped close out the set for the home team.
Pepperdine (6-1) was able to open an 11-4 advantage in the second set thanks to six kills as well as five SeattleU errors. Richards compiled nine kills in the set, the last to bring the Redhawks within three at 23-20, but back-to-back attack errors by SeattleU allowed the Waves to earn the second set and the 2-0 match lead heading into the intermission.
The third set was tied at 9-9 before a kill by Kim Hill started a 6-1 run for the Waves that gave the home team the lead for good. A kill by Kaytlyn Dill (Bothell, Wash.) and a Pepperdine error allowed SeattleU to come within three at 17-14, but the Waves scored eight of the final ten points to close out the set and the match.
Frederick led the Waves with 13 kills, while Hill and Kristen Seaton each earned seven kills during the match. Setter Kiah Fiers accumulated 33 assists, went 4-for-5 in attack attempts, and picked up three block assists. Libero Stevi Robinson posted match highs with 19 defensive digs and three service aces as Pepperdine finished ahead in every statistical category.
Seattle University (1-7) continues play in the Pepperdine Asics Classic Saturday, Sept. 12, against UC Riverside beginning at 4:30 p.m. and finishes off the weekend by facing Army Sunday, Sept. 13, at 12 noon. Live stats for both matches are available through Pepperdine's athletics website (www.pepperdinesports.com).