Sept. 26, 2005

MALIBU, Calif. - Off to a 7-3 start this season, the No. 6-ranked Pepperdine water polo team is set to conclude its four-match homestand on Sat., Oct. 1, when it takes on USC and Whittier in a doubleheader beginning at Noon at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool.

Pepperdine (7-3) has split the first two matches of its homestand, downing No.7 UC Irvine, 7-5, on Saturday and falling to No. 4 UCLA by the same score on Sunday.

Senior Jesse Smith accounted for four Wave goals over the weekend and leads the team with 19 on the season. Sophomore Grant Miller recorded five goals in the two weekend matches upping his season total to 18, while Adam Hewko has chipped in 17 on the season.

As a team, Pepperdine is outscoring its opponents by an 83-60 margin through 10 games, including holding a 26-14 edge in the second period.

Saturday's games will serve as a final warm-up before the Waves open Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) play on Oct. 6 at UC Irvine.