Malibu, Calif. - The Sand Cats ended the Malibu Invite with a win against Pepperdine, finishing the tournament 3-0. With these victories, Arizona is now 7-0 on the season. 

After close battles in the first flight against the Waves, with matchups on Courts 2 and 4 going to three sets, the Cats secured a 3-2 victory.

On Court 1, pair Hope Shannon/Grace Cook played a close match against Pepperdine's Kate Clermont/McKenna Thomas. The Wildcats ultimately fell to the Waves 14-21, 16-21. The pair went 1-2 at the Invite, bringing their season record to 4-3.

Abby Russell/Olivia McElroy defeated Pepperdine's Madison Oriskovich/Kristine Briede in a close competition at No. 2. The Arizona pair lost a nail-biter in the first set 23-25, but came back victorious in the second set with a 21-16 win. Russell and McElroy finished strong in the third set, winning 15-11 and securing the second point of the dual for the Wildcats. The pair ended the tournament 3-0, maintaining their undefeated season record.

On Court 3, Arizona's Kylee Fitzsimmons/Annie Kost were once again responsible for securing the match's winning  point. The pair defeated the Waves in two sets 21-15, 21-17. Fitzsimmons and Kost ended the tournament 3-0, with four of their last five matches being the clinching point in Arizona's duals. 

At No. 4, Jess Horwath/Kate Phillips were evenly matched against Pepperdine's Gracie Pedersen/Kaydon Meyers. The pair lost the first set to the Waves 23-21 but came back to win the second and third sets 21-18, 15-10, respectively. With a few hard-won battles, the pair went 3-0 at the Invite, bringing their season record to 6-1.

At No. 5, Miranda Erro/Ashlyn Zilliken fell just short against Pepperdine's Emi Erickson/Aubrey Roberts, with a score of 19-21, 21-23. Erro and Zilliken ended the tournament with a 1-2 record.

Next week, the Wildcats head to Tempe for the Pac-12 South Invitational, where they will face Utah, Washington, USC and ASU.

Arizona – 3, Pepperdine – 2

Court 1: Kate Clermont and Mckenna Thomas (PEP) def. Hope Shannon and Grace Cook (ARIZ) 21-14, 21-16

Court 2: Abby Russell and Olivia McElroy (ARIZ) def. Madison Oriskovich and Kristine Briede (PEP) 23-25, 21-16, 15-11

Court 3: Kylee Fitzsimmons and Annie Kost (ARIZ) def. Gabriella Perez and Sarlota Svobodova (PEP) 21-15, 21-17

Court 4: Jess Horwath and Kate Phillips (ARIZ) def. Gracie Pedersen and Kaydon Meyers (PEP) 21-23, 21-18, 15-10

Court 5: Emi Erickson and Aubrey Roberts (PEP) def. Ashlyn Zilliken and Miranda Erro (ARIZ) 21-19, 23-21