Gonzaga (4-8, 1-0 WCC) vs. Pepperdine (7-4, 1-0 WCC)
Sept. 22 | 12 p.m. | Spokane, Wash. | Martin Centre
Live Stats | Live Stream
 
INSIDE THE SERIES:
Overall: 63rd Meeting
In Spokane: 7-24 | In Malibu: 1-30
Current Streak: PEP, won 1
Last Meeting: Nov. 4, 2017; PEP won 3-1 in Malibu, Calif.
Series Notes:
- Gonzaga and Pepperdine meet for the 63rd time in program history and the 31st time in Spokane.
- The Bulldogs are 3-1 against the Waves under Diane Nelson.
- Five of Gonzaga's eight wins over Pepperdine have come in the last four seasons, and Gonzaga has won five of the last eight meetings. Three of the last five matches have gone to five sets, while last sweep in the series occurred on Oct. 10, 2015 in Spokane with a 3-0 sweep in favor of Gonzaga.
- In the last meeting, Pepperdine defeated Gonzaga 3-1 in Malibu on Nov. 4.
 
SCOUTING PEPPERDINE:
- Through 10 nonconference games, the Waves posted a 6-4 overall record, including four wins by sweeps. Thursday at (RV) Portland, Pepperdine hit .290 while recording 9.0 team blocks, the second-highest blocking effort this season. Two players finished with double-figure kills (Rachel Ahrens, 14; Hannah Frohling, 13), while Tarah Wylie added a team-high 7.0 blocks with six kills. In the last four seasons, the Waves carry a 3-1 record in conference openers.
- Five players average at least two kills per set, while Shannon Scully and preseason All-WCC selection Hannah Frohling lead the Waves with 3.33 and 3.26 kills per set, respectively. As a squad, Pepperdine ranks 2nd nationally with 14.30 kills per set and 22nd nationally hitting at a .274 clip.
- Setter Blossom Sato averages 11.27 assists per set, good for 19th nationally. She's recorded 417 assists so far this season, including a season- and career-high 59 against Idaho on Aug. 31.
- Defensively, the Waves are led by Tarah Wylie and Alli O'Harra, averaging 0.89 and 0.70 blocks per set, respectively. Hana Lishman leads the squad in digs with a 3.76 per set average.
- Pepperdine has yet to play a five-set match this season. The Waves are 5-2 in three-set matches and an even 2-2 in four-set matches.
- The Waves were picked to finish fourth in the WCC Preseason Coaches Poll release in mid-August.
 
HITTING OUR MARK AGAINST LMU: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Against Loyola Marymount, five players hit over .200 (with at least 10 attempts) for the first time this season. Four players finished with at least seven kills, led by Kaylie Loewen with a season-high 14, while three players had at least eight digs (led by Tiyana Hallums' 17). The Zags hit a combined .297, the second-best hitting percentage this season, while one player (Katelyn Oppio) finished with a match-high four blocks.
 
CONFERENCE HOME OPENER SUCCESS:
Gonzaga has seen ample success in the first conference home match over the last few seasons. In fact, since 2013, Gonzaga has won each of its first conference home matches, and with the win on Sept. 20 over Loyola Marymount, the Zags boast a 6-0 win streak in such matches.