Oct. 22, 2005

Box Score

MALIBU, Calif. - The first half of the West Coast Conference season did not end the way the Gonzaga University Bulldogs would have hoped as they were swept in three games for the second straight night to fall to 2-5 in the WCC and 10-14 overall. Pepperdine University improved to 12-8 overall and 5-2 in the WCC following their 30-26, 30-18, 30-25 win over GU.

Gonzaga had hoped for a better outcome on their two-match swing through the Los Angeles area as the Bulldogs were riding an upset of then No. 25 Saint Mary's College in their last WCC action. Unfortunately GU could not find an answer for the Waves front line players as three Pepperdine players finished in double figure kills. Julie Rubenstein led the way with 17 kills while Sophia Milo was nearly unstoppable with 16 kills and a .737 attack percentage. Breegan Mulligan rounded out the double figure Waves with 10 kills.

Sophomore Becky Jones attempted to keep the Bulldogs in the match as she finished with a team-high 11 kills. Gonzaga hit .219 and .225 in games one and three as they were in both of those matches until the final points of each match. Freshman Tianna Tuatagaloa came off the bench in all three games and finished with 7 kills on 23 swings, her highest output of the year.

Jessica Herrera and Heather Dunn each picked up 11 digs for the Bulldogs while Briawna Mueller was the team leader with 3 block assists. Kekai Crabbe led all players with 12 digs for Pepperdine while Milo had five blocks, four of them block assists.

Gonzaga continues on the road next Saturday at the University of Portland as the Bulldogs wrap up what will be a four-match road trip. Gonzaga is looking to change its road WCC fortunes to start the second half of the WCC season as GU was 0-4 on the road and 2-1 at home during the first portion of league play. Gonzaga returns to the Martin Centre on Friday, Nov. 4 with a 7 p.m. match against the University of San Diego.