MALIBU, California — A huge Mountain Pacific Sports Federation series is coming up for the #4 Pepperdine men's volleyball team, as the Waves host second-ranked and first-place BYU for a pair of matches this weekend. The Waves are in the midst of a seven-match homestand. Austin Wilmot was named the AVCA's National Player of the Week on Tuesday.

MATCH #12 — Friday (March 19) at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, California: #4 Pepperdine (8-3, 8-3) vs. #2 BYU (10-2, 10-2) at 1 p.m.

MATCH #13 — Saturday (March 20) at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, California: #4 Pepperdine vs. #2 BYU at 1 p.m.

WATCH/ONLINE — Both matches will be streamed online 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 36-35 all-time against BYU after the Cougars won twice in Provo earlier this season. The teams didn't play in Firestone Fieldhouse in 2020, but the Waves won both meetings at home in 2019. The Waves are 24-11 against the Cougars in Malibu. This season's first two matches were close, as six of the seven sets were decided by two points.

LAST TIME OUT — The Waves split a home-and-home with then-#8 UCLA last week, falling in five sets at Pauley Pavilion but coming back two days later to win in Firestone Fieldhouse in four sets. Spencer Wickens averaged team bests of 2.44 kills and 1.56 digs and Austin Wilmot led the way with 3.00 kills and 1.56 blocks.

RANKINGS — The Waves are ranked fourth in the AVCA poll for the second straight week. They began the year tied for seventh and have been as high as third.

AWARDS — Austin Wilmot received the AVCA National Player of the Week award and the MPSF Defensive Player of the Week award on March 15-16 after averaging 3.00 points and 1.56 blocks while hitting .500 in two matches against UCLA. It was his second MPSF weekly award, as he also got it on February 22 after averaging 2.00 blocks in two wins against Stanford.

Spencer Wickens is a two-time MPSF Offensive Player of the Week. He received it on February 1 after averaging 4.12 kills while hitting .500 in two wins against Concordia. He received it again on March 1 after averaging 4.17 points while hitting .471 in two victories against USC ... Trey Cole took home the season's first MPSF Defensive Player of the Week award on February 1 after averaging 2.88 digs against Concordia ... Cole was Off the Block's National Freshman of the Week on February 1 and Wilmot was the Off the Block National Middle Hitter of the Week on February 22.

FIRST STARTS — Although the Waves brought back almost their entire 2020 starting lineup, three freshmen have been regular starters so far, with setter Bryce Dvorak, libero Trey Cole and middle blocker Andersen Fuller.

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.