Saturday, April 20
Malibu, Calif.
7:00 p.m. PT
Pepperdine University
vs
USC (MPSF Final)
Photo by: Martin A. Folb
Waves Host USC in MPSF Tournament Final
4/19/2019 11:31:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
MALIBU, California — The #4 Pepperdine men's volleyball team hasn't lost at home yet this season — the Waves are 13-0 in Firestone Fieldhouse — and one more victory here will assure Pepperdine of a spot in the NCAA Championships for the first time in more than a decade. On Saturday night, the top-seeded Waves host third-seeded and fifth-ranked USC for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament championship.
MATCH #28 — Saturday (April 20) at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, California: #4 Pepperdine (21-6, 9-3) vs. #5 USC (18-9, 7-5) at 7 p.m.
WATCH/ONLINE — The final can be seen online via the MPSF's streaming platform. The subscription-based service costs $9.99 per month. Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Famer Al Epstein will have the call. Links to broadcasts and live stats can be found at PepperdineWaves.com.
TICKETS — Tickets for the final cost $10 for adults and $8 for children under 12 or seniors 65+. Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets for $5 each. Pepperdine students, faculty and staff with their university ID will be admitted for free.
MPSF TOURNAMENT HISTORY — Pepperdine has won the MPSF Tournament four times (1998, 2002, 2005, 2008). The Waves now have a 26-20 record in their 25th tournament. This is the sixth time that Pepperdine has hosted the semfinals and final, though the last time was in 2007. The Waves are making their 10th appearance in the final. They are 4-5 in the previous nine (2-3 at home). Pepperdine is 17-5 at home in the MPSF Tournament across all rounds.
MPSF AWARDS — David Wieczorek repeated as MPSF Player of the Year, highlighting the league's postseason awards. It's the eighth time a Wave has earned POTY honors, more than any other school. He's just the fourth player to repeat as the award-winner, and the second Wave (George Roumain, 1998-99). Joining Wieczorek on the All-MPSF first team was Michael Wexter, while Kaleb Denmark made the second team and Robert Mullahey was honorable mention.
OPPONENT — Pepperdine is 65-40 all-time against USC after the two teams each won at home in the regular season. The Waves have a 32-14 advantage in Malibu. The Waves are 1-3 against the Trojans in the MPSF Tournament. They met in the final in 2009 (USC won in five sets in Irvine). Last year, the Trojans won in the quarterfinals in Malibu.
MPSF SEMIFINAL — The Waves swept past fifth-seeded BYU, 25-17, 25-23, 25-18, in Thursday night's semifinal. David Wieczorek (16) and Michael Wexter (12) combined for 28 of the Waves' 40 kills, and Pepperdine hit .392 for the match.
NEXT — The NCAA Tournament field will be announced on Sunday (April 21) at 10 a.m. on NCAA.com.
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 15* 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 #28 — Saturday (April 20) at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, California: #4 Pepperdine (21-6, 9-3) vs. #5 USC (18-9, 7-5) at 7 p.m.
WATCH/ONLINE — The final can be seen online via the MPSF's streaming platform. The subscription-based service costs $9.99 per month. Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Famer Al Epstein will have the call. Links to broadcasts and live stats can be found at PepperdineWaves.com.
TICKETS — Tickets for the final cost $10 for adults and $8 for children under 12 or seniors 65+. Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets for $5 each. Pepperdine students, faculty and staff with their university ID will be admitted for free.
MPSF TOURNAMENT HISTORY — Pepperdine has won the MPSF Tournament four times (1998, 2002, 2005, 2008). The Waves now have a 26-20 record in their 25th tournament. This is the sixth time that Pepperdine has hosted the semfinals and final, though the last time was in 2007. The Waves are making their 10th appearance in the final. They are 4-5 in the previous nine (2-3 at home). Pepperdine is 17-5 at home in the MPSF Tournament across all rounds.
MPSF AWARDS — David Wieczorek repeated as MPSF Player of the Year, highlighting the league's postseason awards. It's the eighth time a Wave has earned POTY honors, more than any other school. He's just the fourth player to repeat as the award-winner, and the second Wave (George Roumain, 1998-99). Joining Wieczorek on the All-MPSF first team was Michael Wexter, while Kaleb Denmark made the second team and Robert Mullahey was honorable mention.
OPPONENT — Pepperdine is 65-40 all-time against USC after the two teams each won at home in the regular season. The Waves have a 32-14 advantage in Malibu. The Waves are 1-3 against the Trojans in the MPSF Tournament. They met in the final in 2009 (USC won in five sets in Irvine). Last year, the Trojans won in the quarterfinals in Malibu.
MPSF SEMIFINAL — The Waves swept past fifth-seeded BYU, 25-17, 25-23, 25-18, in Thursday night's semifinal. David Wieczorek (16) and Michael Wexter (12) combined for 28 of the Waves' 40 kills, and Pepperdine hit .392 for the match.
NEXT — The NCAA Tournament field will be announced on Sunday (April 21) at 10 a.m. on NCAA.com.
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 15* 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.
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