Wednesday, February 24
Los Angeles, Calif.
5:00 p.m. PT
Pepperdine University
at
USC
Noah Dyer
Photo by: Martin A. Folb
Men's Volleyball Battles USC Twice his Week
2/23/2021 11:47:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
MALIBU, California — The #5 Pepperdine men's volleyball team plays a home-and-home series against USC this week. After visiting the Trojans on Wednesday, the Waves get to play just their second home match, and their first in a month, on Friday.
MATCH #7 — Wednesday (February 24) at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California: #5 Pepperdine (4-2, 4-2) at USC (1-2, 1-2) at 5 p.m.
MATCH #8 — Friday (February 26) at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, California: #5 Pepperdine vs. USC at 6 p.m.
WATCH/ONLINE — Wednesday's match will be streamed by USC at Pac-12.com. Friday's match will be streamed via WaveCasts with Pepperdine Hall of Famer Al Epstein on the call. Links to broadcasts and live stats can be found at PepperdineWaves.com.
ATTENDANCE — Per the current COVID-19 guidelines set by the state of California and Los Angeles County, fans will not be permitted to attend home matches in Firestone Fieldhouse.
OPPONENT — Pepperdine is 67-40 all-time against USC. The Waves have won three straight, five of the last seven and seven of the last 10.
LAST TIME OUT — Pepperdine beat Stanford for the seventh and eighth straight time with victories of three sets and four sets last weekend in Palo Alto. Spencer Wickens averaged 3.71 kills per set and Austin Wilmot collected MPSF Defensive Player of the Week honors after averaging 2.00 blocks per set.
RANKINGS — The Waves are currently ranked a season-best fifth in the AVCA poll. They began the year tied for seventh and have only been fifth, sixth or seventh.
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 ... Austin Wilmot received the MPSF Defensive Player of the Week award on February 22 and was Off the Block's National Middle Hitter of the Week after he averaged 2.29 kills and 2.00 blocks in two wins against Stanford.
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) were called off. The Waves added two matches against Stanford to replace Concordia.
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 #7 — Wednesday (February 24) at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California: #5 Pepperdine (4-2, 4-2) at USC (1-2, 1-2) at 5 p.m.
MATCH #8 — Friday (February 26) at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, California: #5 Pepperdine vs. USC at 6 p.m.
WATCH/ONLINE — Wednesday's match will be streamed by USC at Pac-12.com. Friday's match will be streamed via WaveCasts with Pepperdine Hall of Famer Al Epstein on the call. Links to broadcasts and live stats can be found at PepperdineWaves.com.
ATTENDANCE — Per the current COVID-19 guidelines set by the state of California and Los Angeles County, fans will not be permitted to attend home matches in Firestone Fieldhouse.
OPPONENT — Pepperdine is 67-40 all-time against USC. The Waves have won three straight, five of the last seven and seven of the last 10.
LAST TIME OUT — Pepperdine beat Stanford for the seventh and eighth straight time with victories of three sets and four sets last weekend in Palo Alto. Spencer Wickens averaged 3.71 kills per set and Austin Wilmot collected MPSF Defensive Player of the Week honors after averaging 2.00 blocks per set.
RANKINGS — The Waves are currently ranked a season-best fifth in the AVCA poll. They began the year tied for seventh and have only been fifth, sixth or seventh.
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 ... Austin Wilmot received the MPSF Defensive Player of the Week award on February 22 and was Off the Block's National Middle Hitter of the Week after he averaged 2.29 kills and 2.00 blocks in two wins against Stanford.
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) were called off. The Waves added two matches against Stanford to replace Concordia.
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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/ Men's Volleyball
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/ Men's Volleyball
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