Friday, March 26
Malibu, Calif.
3:00 p.m. PT
Pepperdine University
vs
Grand Canyon
Noah Dyer
Photo by: Martin A. Folb
Men's Volleyball Hosts Three-Game Series With GCU
3/24/2021 11:04:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
MALIBU, California — The #5 Pepperdine men's volleyball team entertains #9 Grand Canyon for three Mountain Pacific Sports Federation matches in three days this weekend. The Waves and Lopes are third and fourth in the MPSF standings.
MATCH #14 — Friday (March 26) at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, California: #5 Pepperdine (8-5, 8-5) vs. #9 Grand Canyon (4-5, 4-5) at 3 p.m.
MATCH #15 — Saturday (March 27) at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, California: #5 Pepperdine vs. #9 Grand Canyon at 5 p.m.
MATCH #16 — Sunday (March 28) at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, California: #5 Pepperdine vs. #9 Grand Canyon at 5 p.m.
WATCH/ONLINE — All three 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 4-2 all-time against Grand Canyon. Since the Lopes joined the MPSF, the Waves are 2-0 at home and 1-2 in matches played in Phoenix. In the only 2020 meeting, Grand Canyon won 3-1 at home.
LAST TIME OUT — #2 BYU visited Firestone Fieldhouse for two matches last weekend and the Cougars were playing at the highest level. After the Waves won the first set of the first match, BYU won the next six to earn victories of four sets and three sets. Austin Wilmot hit .568 and averaged 3.43 kills, 1.00 blocks and 4.00 points.
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.
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 #14 — Friday (March 26) at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, California: #5 Pepperdine (8-5, 8-5) vs. #9 Grand Canyon (4-5, 4-5) at 3 p.m.
MATCH #15 — Saturday (March 27) at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, California: #5 Pepperdine vs. #9 Grand Canyon at 5 p.m.
MATCH #16 — Sunday (March 28) at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, California: #5 Pepperdine vs. #9 Grand Canyon at 5 p.m.
WATCH/ONLINE — All three 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 4-2 all-time against Grand Canyon. Since the Lopes joined the MPSF, the Waves are 2-0 at home and 1-2 in matches played in Phoenix. In the only 2020 meeting, Grand Canyon won 3-1 at home.
LAST TIME OUT — #2 BYU visited Firestone Fieldhouse for two matches last weekend and the Cougars were playing at the highest level. After the Waves won the first set of the first match, BYU won the next six to earn victories of four sets and three sets. Austin Wilmot hit .568 and averaged 3.43 kills, 1.00 blocks and 4.00 points.
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.
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
