Sunday, December 30
Malibu, Calif.
5:00 p.m. PT
Pepperdine University
vs
Princeton
Spencer Wickens
Photo by: Catt Ott
Men's Volleyball Season Begins Sunday
12/26/2018 4:00:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
MALIBU, California — The 2019 Pepperdine men's volleyball season actually begins in 2018 with the earliest start date in program history. The first match for the #6 Waves is this Sunday vs. Princeton.
MATCH #1 — Sunday (December 30) at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, California: Pepperdine (0-0) vs. Princeton (0-0) at 5 p.m.
WATCH/ONLINE — Sunday's match can be seen via WaveCasts on TheW.tv and Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Famer Al Epstein will have the call. Links to broadcasts and live stats can be found at PepperdineWaves.com.
OPPONENT — Pepperdine is 5-0 all-time against Princeton and has posted a 4-0 record against the Tigers in Firestone Fieldhouse, including a three-set victory last season. Princeton was picked to win the EIVA in the preseason coaches poll and is receiving votes in the AVCA preseason poll. The Tigers went 12-16 last year.
KEY RETURNERS — The Waves bring back four starters, plus two players that saw much of the time at libero. Senior outside hitter David Wieczorek is a two-time All-American, the 2018 MPSF Player of the Year and a member of the U.S. National Team the past two summers. He averaged 4.00 kills, 0.57 aces and 1.22 digs per set last year. Sophomore Robert Mullahey took over at setter last season and was an Off the Block Freshman All-American. He averaged 10.5 assists per set and led the Waves to a .294 team hitting percentage.
Seniors Max Chamberlain and Michael Wexter started at middle blocker last season. Chamberlain made the All-MPSF second team after averaging 1.22 kills and 1.16 blocks (seventh nationally) per set with a .372 hitting percentage. Wexter was All-MPSF honorable mention as he averaged 1.45 kills and 0.77 blocks per set while hitting .415. Junior Noah Dyer (1.46 digs/set) and sophomore Spencer Wickens (0.51 digs/set) shared time at libero.
Seniors Clay Carr and Nolan Sharp have also seen extensive amounts of playing time with the Waves over the years.
OPENERS — Over the past 45 seasons, the Waves have a record of 39-6 in season openers, 42-3 in home openers and 31-1 when the match is both the season and home opener.
AVCA POLL — The Waves open the season at #6 in the preseason poll. Of the 20 other schools in the top 15 or receiving votes, Pepperdine will play 15 of them this season.
TICKETS — Single-match tickets at Firestone Fieldhouse cost $10 each for adults and $8 each for children under 12, seniors 65+ and alumni/Crest members. Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets for $5 each.
NEXT — Pepperdine has a single match next week with a home contest against UC San Diego on Friday, January 4.
PEPPERDINE VOLLEYBALL — Pepperdine has won five NCAA men's volleyball championships, second only to UCLA. Coaching legend Marv Dunphy stepped down after the 2017 season. He won four of the NCAA titles, plus 612 matches over his 34 years with the Waves. Pepperdine has won 14 regular-season or tournament conference titles. The Waves have finished in the top six in the final AVCA poll in 17 of the last 22 seasons, and in the top 10 in 21 of the last 22 years. A Pepperdine alum has competed at the Olympics every time since 1984 (Sean Rooney won gold in 2008).
ABOUT PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY — Pepperdine boasts a one-of-a-kind athletic department with unprecedented success for a school of its size. The Waves have won NCAA Division I championships in five different men's sports — one of just 18 schools to have accomplished this feat — and nine overall. Of this elite group, Pepperdine has the smallest undergraduate enrollment, is the only school without football and is the only university that has not been affiliated with a "major" conference. The Waves have won a total of 25 team or individual national championships in their history. Pepperdine has also earned the Division I-AAA All-Sports Trophy, an award based on postseason success that's given to the top non-football school, three times (most recently in 2011-12). Located in scenic Malibu, California, the university overlooks the Pacific Ocean and its campus and athletic facilities are regularly voted among the nation's most beautiful. Pepperdine, which is affiliated with the Church of Christ, ranks #46 overall on U.S. News and World Report's list of America's best colleges.
MATCH #1 — Sunday (December 30) at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, California: Pepperdine (0-0) vs. Princeton (0-0) at 5 p.m.
WATCH/ONLINE — Sunday's match can be seen via WaveCasts on TheW.tv and Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Famer Al Epstein will have the call. Links to broadcasts and live stats can be found at PepperdineWaves.com.
OPPONENT — Pepperdine is 5-0 all-time against Princeton and has posted a 4-0 record against the Tigers in Firestone Fieldhouse, including a three-set victory last season. Princeton was picked to win the EIVA in the preseason coaches poll and is receiving votes in the AVCA preseason poll. The Tigers went 12-16 last year.
KEY RETURNERS — The Waves bring back four starters, plus two players that saw much of the time at libero. Senior outside hitter David Wieczorek is a two-time All-American, the 2018 MPSF Player of the Year and a member of the U.S. National Team the past two summers. He averaged 4.00 kills, 0.57 aces and 1.22 digs per set last year. Sophomore Robert Mullahey took over at setter last season and was an Off the Block Freshman All-American. He averaged 10.5 assists per set and led the Waves to a .294 team hitting percentage.
Seniors Max Chamberlain and Michael Wexter started at middle blocker last season. Chamberlain made the All-MPSF second team after averaging 1.22 kills and 1.16 blocks (seventh nationally) per set with a .372 hitting percentage. Wexter was All-MPSF honorable mention as he averaged 1.45 kills and 0.77 blocks per set while hitting .415. Junior Noah Dyer (1.46 digs/set) and sophomore Spencer Wickens (0.51 digs/set) shared time at libero.
Seniors Clay Carr and Nolan Sharp have also seen extensive amounts of playing time with the Waves over the years.
OPENERS — Over the past 45 seasons, the Waves have a record of 39-6 in season openers, 42-3 in home openers and 31-1 when the match is both the season and home opener.
AVCA POLL — The Waves open the season at #6 in the preseason poll. Of the 20 other schools in the top 15 or receiving votes, Pepperdine will play 15 of them this season.
TICKETS — Single-match tickets at Firestone Fieldhouse cost $10 each for adults and $8 each for children under 12, seniors 65+ and alumni/Crest members. Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets for $5 each.
NEXT — Pepperdine has a single match next week with a home contest against UC San Diego on Friday, January 4.
PEPPERDINE VOLLEYBALL — Pepperdine has won five NCAA men's volleyball championships, second only to UCLA. Coaching legend Marv Dunphy stepped down after the 2017 season. He won four of the NCAA titles, plus 612 matches over his 34 years with the Waves. Pepperdine has won 14 regular-season or tournament conference titles. The Waves have finished in the top six in the final AVCA poll in 17 of the last 22 seasons, and in the top 10 in 21 of the last 22 years. A Pepperdine alum has competed at the Olympics every time since 1984 (Sean Rooney won gold in 2008).
ABOUT PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY — Pepperdine boasts a one-of-a-kind athletic department with unprecedented success for a school of its size. The Waves have won NCAA Division I championships in five different men's sports — one of just 18 schools to have accomplished this feat — and nine overall. Of this elite group, Pepperdine has the smallest undergraduate enrollment, is the only school without football and is the only university that has not been affiliated with a "major" conference. The Waves have won a total of 25 team or individual national championships in their history. Pepperdine has also earned the Division I-AAA All-Sports Trophy, an award based on postseason success that's given to the top non-football school, three times (most recently in 2011-12). Located in scenic Malibu, California, the university overlooks the Pacific Ocean and its campus and athletic facilities are regularly voted among the nation's most beautiful. Pepperdine, which is affiliated with the Church of Christ, ranks #46 overall on U.S. News and World Report's list of America's best colleges.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Men's Volleyball
S
/ Men's Volleyball
L
/ Men's Volleyball
OH
/ Men's Volleyball
L
/ Men's Volleyball
OH
/ Men's Volleyball
