MALIBU, California — The #4 Pepperdine men's volleyball team heads into the final two weeks of the regular season with a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title in its sights, and the stretch run begins with a huge match against first-place and #5 UCLA on Wednesday night.

Pepperdine also hosts Grand Canyon on Friday. The Waves can clinch at least a share of the regular-season title if they win their final four matches, all of which will be played in Firestone Fieldhouse, where they are unbeaten this season (8-0). 

MATCH #23 — Wednesday (March 27) at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, California: #4 Pepperdine (16-6, 5-3) vs. #5 UCLA (16-6, 6-2) at 7 p.m.

MATCH #24 — Friday (March 29) at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, California: #4 Pepperdine vs. Grand Canyon (12-12, 2-6) at 7 p.m.

WATCH/ONLINE — Both matches 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.

OPPONENTS — Both previous road matches against UCLA and Grand Canyon went five sets. The Waves fell behind 2-1 at GCU but came back to post a victory. The Waves went up 2-0 at Pauley Pavilion and were holding the Bruins to .164 hitting, but UCLA hit .500 over each of the final three sets to earn the comeback win. The Waves are 42-82 all-time against the Bruins. Pepperdine is 3-1 all-time against Grand Canyon.

LAST WEEK — The Waves began their homestand and concluded non-conference play with a convincing three-set sweep of then-#6 UC Irvine (25-17, 25-20, 26-24) on Saturday. Michael Wexter and David Wieczorek each had 14 kills as the Waves outhit the Anteaters .443 to .307. More than 40 alums attended the Alumni Night match.

NEXT — The regular season concludes next week with matches in Firestone Fieldhouse against #9 USC (Thursday, April 4, 7 p.m.) and Concordia (Saturday, April 6, 5 p.m.).

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.