MALIBU, California — The #4 Pepperdine men's volleyball team wraps up the regular season with five consecutive home matches, including their final non-conference match this Saturday against #6 UC Irvine.
When MPSF play resumes, the Waves can clinch at least a share of the regular-season title if they win out in Firestone Fieldhouse, where they are unbeaten this season (7-0).
MATCH #22 — Saturday (March 23) at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, California: #4 Pepperdine (15-6) vs. #6 UC Irvine (14-6) at 5 p.m.
WATCH/ONLINE — The 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.
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.
OPPONENT — Pepperdine is 54-26 all-time against UC Irvine after suffering a four-set loss in Irvine earlier this season. The Anteaters have won four of the last five meetings overall, and won in Firestone Fieldhouse in both 2017 and 2018.
LAST WEEK — The Waves went 2-1, sweeping #14 George Mason at home before going on the road to post a 3-0 victory at #8 Stanford, followed by a four-set loss at #9 BYU. Pepperdine hit a season-high .489 against Stanford.
David Wieczorek averaged 4.1 kills while hitting .434 on the week, while
Michael Wexter averaged 3.9 kills, 2.6 digs and 1.1 blocks.
NEXT — Pepperdine's final four MPSF matches are at home, with two next week against #5 UCLA (Wednesday, March 27) and Grand Canyon (Friday, March 29). The first-place Bruins are one match ahead of the Waves in the standings.
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.
