Second-seeded Hawaii was eliminated from team-title contention Friday when falling to defending champion Pepperdine 3-2 in an elimination match at the AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala.

The SandBows (18-3) had dropped their opener 3-2 to Long Beach State then stayed alive in the losers bracket with a 3-2 victory over Florida State.

The match with the Waves (12-5) was tied at 1-1 with the final three matches all going to three sets. At No. 1, Kellie Woolever-Kelley Larsen took a 9-0 lead in Set 3 to close out a 21-12, 20-22, 15-5 victory over Brittany Tiegs-Nikki Taylor and go up 2-1.

Pepperdine clinched the victory with a win at No. 2. Lara Dkykstra-Becca Strehlow rallied past Olivia Urban-Katie Spieler, 19-21, 21-13, 15-9. Hawaii closed out the match with a 12-21, 21-18, 15-10 win by London Chow-Hannah Zalopany over Samantha Cash-Corinee Quiggle at No. 5.

Hawaii will send its No. 1 team of Tiegs-Taylor to Sunday’s pairs championship.