Thursday, February 18
Palo Alto, Calif.
9:00 a.m. PT
Pepperdine University
at
Stanford
Austin Wilmot
Photo by: Martin A. Folb
Men's Volleyball Visits Stanford This Week
2/16/2021 9:12:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
MALIBU, California — The #6 Pepperdine men's volleyball team had its planned matches for this week against Concordia get canceled, so instead the Waves will head to Northern California to play Stanford twice. It'll be the season opener for the Cardinal.
MATCH #5 — Thursday (February 18) at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto, California: #6 Pepperdine (2-2, 2-2) at Stanford (0-0, 0-0) at 9 a.m.
MATCH #6 — Saturday (February 20) at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto, California: #6 Pepperdine at Stanford at 3 p.m.
WATCH/ONLINE — Stanford is not currently planning on streaming either match. Links to live stats can be found at PepperdineWaves.com.
OPPONENT — Pepperdine is 58-27 all-time against Stanford and has won six straight, as well as nine of the last 11. The Waves won in five sets on the road in the only meeting last year. Pepperdine has won six straight road matches in the series.
LAST TIME OUT — The Waves went to Provo to face #1 BYU twice last weekend, and though the Waves lost in three sets the first night and four the following evening, six of the seven sets were decided by two points. Jacob Steele averaged 4.29 kills per set and had a career-high 19 kills in Saturday's match.
RANKINGS — The Waves are currently ranked sixth nationally in the AVCA poll. They began the year tied for seventh, moved up to sixth after winning twice, dropped back to seventh after being idle and moved back up to sixth despite two losses. The Waves remain #5 in Off the Block's media poll.
AWARDS — Spencer Wickens and Trey Cole took home the season's first MPSF Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards, respectively, on February 1. Wickens averaged 4.12 kills and hit .500 in the two matches against Concordia, while Cole averaged 2.88 digs. Cole was also named Off the Block's National Freshman of the Week.
FIRST STARTS — Although the Waves brought back almost their entire 2020 starting lineup, a number of players have been first-time starters so far, including freshman setter Bryce Dvorak, freshman libero Trey Cole, freshman middle blocker Andersen Fuller and redshirt freshman opposite Akin Akimwumi.
SCHEDULE UPDATES — Three of the season's first seven planned matches were postponed or canceled by the opponents' COVID-19 pauses. Matches against USC (Feb. 4) and Concordia (Feb. 17 and 19) have yet to be rescheduled.
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 #49 overall on U.S. News and World Report's list of America's best colleges.
MATCH #5 — Thursday (February 18) at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto, California: #6 Pepperdine (2-2, 2-2) at Stanford (0-0, 0-0) at 9 a.m.
MATCH #6 — Saturday (February 20) at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto, California: #6 Pepperdine at Stanford at 3 p.m.
WATCH/ONLINE — Stanford is not currently planning on streaming either match. Links to live stats can be found at PepperdineWaves.com.
OPPONENT — Pepperdine is 58-27 all-time against Stanford and has won six straight, as well as nine of the last 11. The Waves won in five sets on the road in the only meeting last year. Pepperdine has won six straight road matches in the series.
LAST TIME OUT — The Waves went to Provo to face #1 BYU twice last weekend, and though the Waves lost in three sets the first night and four the following evening, six of the seven sets were decided by two points. Jacob Steele averaged 4.29 kills per set and had a career-high 19 kills in Saturday's match.
RANKINGS — The Waves are currently ranked sixth nationally in the AVCA poll. They began the year tied for seventh, moved up to sixth after winning twice, dropped back to seventh after being idle and moved back up to sixth despite two losses. The Waves remain #5 in Off the Block's media poll.
AWARDS — Spencer Wickens and Trey Cole took home the season's first MPSF Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards, respectively, on February 1. Wickens averaged 4.12 kills and hit .500 in the two matches against Concordia, while Cole averaged 2.88 digs. Cole was also named Off the Block's National Freshman of the Week.
FIRST STARTS — Although the Waves brought back almost their entire 2020 starting lineup, a number of players have been first-time starters so far, including freshman setter Bryce Dvorak, freshman libero Trey Cole, freshman middle blocker Andersen Fuller and redshirt freshman opposite Akin Akimwumi.
SCHEDULE UPDATES — Three of the season's first seven planned matches were postponed or canceled by the opponents' COVID-19 pauses. Matches against USC (Feb. 4) and Concordia (Feb. 17 and 19) have yet to be rescheduled.
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 #49 overall on U.S. News and World Report's list of America's best colleges.
Players Mentioned
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