MALIBU, Calif. – Despite a career-best offensive performance from All-Big West Preseason team member Gabi Martinez, the UC Santa Barbara Women’s Volleyball team sank 3-1 to the Pepperdine Waves Friday night. 

Sophomore outside hitter Martinez ended with an all-time high of 21 kills, beating her previous record of 19, which she logged twice her freshman year. She also ended the match with a .452 hit percentage and a match-high 22.5 points. 

Martinez opened the match with a dart down the left line, beginning her four-set campaign. The Gauchos led through 11-10 before the Waves caught up to make it 11-11.

But Santa Barbara went ahead again, leading until 17-16. Pepperdine got even to have it 17-17, then made their way forward, finishing the set ahead at 25-19. 

The Gauchos retaliated, dominating the second set and winning it ten points ahead at 25-15. The Waves were on pace through 7-7, but Santa Barbara made seven of the next eight points to have it 14-8. The Gauchos reached 20 while seven points ahead of the Waves, then ended the set with a kill from Martinez. 

The second set was tied all the way until 12-12, after which the Waves took the lead. Martinez already had 16 total kills halfway through the 3rd and was hitting .542. But Pepperdine stayed several points ahead for the second half of the set and took it 25-20. 

Pepperdine proceeded with the momentum of the third set and took the fourth set 25-19. They led from the outset, distancing themselves ahead at 10-5. The Waves kept it up and wrapped the set and the match. 

Martinez out-hit every other player by at least 7 kills, with the next highest count of 14 belonging to Pepperdine’s Maggie Beauer.  Her match-high 22.5 points were 11.5 points ahead of the next Gaucho’s tally, Auburn Tomkinson’s 11. Tomkinson made eight kills then led the team in blocks, notching five block assists to match her best count of the season. 

Cortni Youngblood continued her double-digit dig habit, making 15 for 3.75 per set. Milan Rex made a team-high 22 assists, while Ava Zamora came in to make a season-best of 18 assists. The setters were also fundamental to the Gaucho defense, with Rex making seven digs and Zamora six.

The Gauchos head to University Park to play UC Davis at USC’s Galen Center. They will face the Aggies at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. Then, to wrap the weekend, Santa Barbara will take on the Trojans on Sunday, Sept. 20 at 2 p.m.