Owen Yoshimoto (Photo by Martin A. Folb)

Men's Volleyball 1/6/2017 12:00:00 AM

#5 Pepperdine Downs #2 McMaster in Four Set Exhibition

Jan. 6, 2017

HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTO GALLERY

MALIBU, Calif.: - The No. 5-ranked Pepperdine men's volleyball team was successful for the third night in a row this Friday evening, collecting a four-set victory over Canada's No. 2-ranked McMaster in Firestone Fieldhouse. The Waves worked for 25-23, 15-25, 25-19 and 25-14 set wins to pull off the win.

As the two matches on Thursday and Friday with McMaster were exhibition, the Waves will remain 1-0 on the season, while the Marauders will remain 6-0.

Pepperdine was successful with a .209 hitting percentage after smashing down 49 kills with 22 errors on 129 swings, while producing five aces. On the other side of the net, McMaster hit for a .200 success rate with 44 kills and added four aces. Both teams dug up 47 balls, with the opposition out-blocking the Waves 10.5 to 7.0.

Freshman Noah Dyer (San Clemente, Calif./Saddleback Valley Christian HS) led the squad with 13 kills on a .265 output. He added an ace, seven digs and two blocks throughout the night.

Senior Joshua Stewart (San Jose, Calif./Bellarmine College Prep/Pacific) led Pepperdine at dish service with 42 aces on 102 total touched. He was also good for nine digs, a block and a smash towards the win. Junior Owen Yoshimoto (Ventura, Calif./Adolfo Camarillo HS/Santa Barbara CC) also produced double-figure digs with 10 for the Waves.

Junior Alex Harthaller (Innsbruck, Austria/Akademischeg Gymnasium/IPFW) and senior Mitchell Penning (St. Louis, Mo./Westminster Christian Academy) also hit for double figure kills. The Austrian put up 12 kills on a .276 percentage and added an ace, 10 digs for the double-double and one block assist. Penning was good for 10 kills with only two errors on 15 swings for a team-high .533 attack output. He added another team-best two aces as well.

Sophomore Max Chamberlain (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs HS) led the squad for the second consecutive night with six blocks, including two solo rejections, and added four kills. Fellow sophomore Michael Wexter (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West HS) was good for nine kills and nine digs also.

The first set had fans believing it would be another close match-up between the No. 5 Waves and No. 2 McMaster. The teams were tied 6-6 after a few exchanged leads, but a Penning kill, followed by a strong service output helped extend a Waves' lead to 9-6 early. It was a lead that the home squad would extend to five at 16-11 after a cross-court attack from Wexter. The Waves went on a 5-2 run late to build a 24-20 advantage over the Marauders, but the opposition was not quick to let go. McMaster came back within one, 24-23, but a strong defense forced an attack error and earned the two-point set win.

With the match-lead heading into the second, the Waves were comfortable, but the Marauders were fired up. McMaster posted a 13-9 lead early on with a strong attack output and Pepperdine was unable to battle back in, and eventually fell 25-15 and allowed the opposition to tie the match 1-1.

The Waves were no-nonsense after the second set, quickly amassing a commanding 14-7 lead over the Marauders with four kills from Dyer and three from Harthaller throughout. Pepperdine kept pounding down, and Stewart kept dishing it out around the court, spreading the love to build a 21-15 lead. After a kill from Penning and the advantage, Dyer found the floor for the final blow and the 25-19 set win.

The teams battled to start the fourth set, amassing an 8-8 tie early on before the Waves took off. With a block collaboration from Dyer and Chamberlain, followed by a Penning, Stewart connection, the home team held a 16-11 lead. Penning found the floor with back-to-back kills and senior Chad McCallister (Huntington Beach, Calif./Marina HS) posted his first career ace to give the Waves a 22-13 cushion. In the final moments, Dyer collected his team-high 13^th kill and Chamberlain and Harthaller rejected the Marauders at the net to garner the 25-14 final set win.

**Note - As the match is exhibition, none of the stats or career-best performances will stand after the weekend.

The Waves will now hit the road, heading to Chicago, Ill. to take on Loyola on Jan. 13 and Lewis on Jan. 14. Follow Pepperdine @PeppVolleyball on Twitter and Facebook for immediate updates and head to PepperdineWaves.com for recaps, results and more.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Noah Dyer: OH/S; 6' 5"; Freshman

#20 Owen Yoshimoto: OH; 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior

#22 Alex Harthaller: OH; 6' 6"; Junior

#1 Michael Wexter: OH; 6' 6"; Freshman

#13 Max Chamberlain: MB; 6' 6"; Freshman

#17 Joshua Stewart: 6' 4"; Sophomore

#2 Mitchell Penning: Middle Blocker; 6' 7"; Freshman

#12 Chad McCallister: Libero; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#5 Noah Dyer
: 6' 5"; Freshman
: OH/S

#20 Owen Yoshimoto
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior
: OH

#22 Alex Harthaller
: 6' 6"; Junior
: OH

#1 Michael Wexter
: 6' 6"; Freshman
: OH

#13 Max Chamberlain
: 6' 6"; Freshman
: MB

#17 Joshua Stewart
: 6' 4"; Sophomore

#2 Mitchell Penning
: 6' 7"; Freshman
: Middle Blocker

#12 Chad McCallister
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: Libero