Beach Volleyball Begins the 2025 Campaign at Home

Friday, February 21

Malibu, Calif.

9:00 a.m. PT

Pepperdine University

Vanguard

Photo by: Jeff Golden

2/19/2025 12:21:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball

By: By Athletic Communications

MALIBU, Calif. – The Pepperdine beach volleyball team will open the 2025 season with four home games during the Pepperdine Challenge this weekend.

DUAL #1 — Pepperdine vs. Vanguard | Friday, Feb. 21 | 9 a.m. | Pepperdine Beach Volleyball Courts | Malibu, Calif. | Stats

DUAL #2 — Pepperdine vs. CSU Bakersfield | Friday, Feb. 21 | 1 p.m. | Pepperdine Beach Volleyball Courts | Malibu, Calif. | Stats

DUAL #3 — Pepperdine vs. #9 California | Saturday, Feb. 22 | 9 a.m. | Pepperdine Beach Volleyball Courts | Malibu, Calif. | Stats

DUAL #4 — Pepperdine vs. #10 Long Beach State | Saturday, Feb. 22 | 1 p.m. | Pepperdine Beach Volleyball Courts | Malibu, Calif. | Stats

PEPPERDINE CHALLENGE FULL SCHEDULE
Friday
9 a.m. - Pepperdine vs. Vanguard
11 a.m. - #9 California vs. Vanguard
1 p.m. - Pepperdine vs. CSU Bakersfield
3 p.m. - #9 California vs. CSU Bakersfield

Saturday
9 a.m. - Pepperdine vs. #9 California
11 a.m. - #9 California vs. #10 Long Beach State
1 p.m. - Pepperdine vs. #10 Long Beach State

VANGUARD — The Waves are 3-0 all-time against the Lions having swept them in 2021, 2022 and 2024.

CSU BAKERSFIELD — Pepperdine is a perfect 9-0 all-time against CSU Bakersfield and have defeated them a total five times on the Pepperdine Beach Volleyball Courts.

#9 CALIFORNIA — The Waves are 1-3 all-time in dual matches against the Bears. Pepperdine took the first meeting between the schools back in 2019, but the Waves haven't defeated the Bears since then.

#10 LONG BEACH STATE — Pepperdine is 25-7 all-time against Long Beach State, but the Beach have taken the last three matches between the two programs. On their home sand, the Waves hold a 10-2 record against the Beach.

LIVE COVERAGE — All Pepperdine games will have live scoring available with links found on the beach volleyball schedule page on pepperdinewaves.com. If available, live stats for the neutral site games can be found on the schedule page as well.

FAN ATTENDANCE & GUIDELINES — Attendance is free to spectators. Free parking is also available on the road next to the Marie Canyon Field. Please be prepared to walk up a small hill to the courts, though those in need may notify the Athletics' staff if there is need of assistance. Bleachers will be available, though lawn chairs, tents and umbrellas are welcomed, as long as no spectator's view is impaired. Nearby parking may be limited and guests are advised to arrive early.

WAVES WEATHER — Friday is forecasted to have a high of 72 degrees with wind speeds of 5-9 mph and gusts up to 12 mph. Saturday's weather will be similar with a high of 72 degrees and wind speeds of 2-6 mph, while gusts will be 8 mph.

WAVE REPORT — Pepperdine returns six players from the 2024 squad, including five Waves who started in the WCC Tournament. Of the familiar faces, the Waves welcome back seniors Kate Clermont, McKenna Thomas and Madison Oriskovich as well as juniors Emma Bubelis, Emi Erickson and Gabriella Perez. New faces include graduate transfers Ella Foti and Marley Johnson, transfers Bella Avelar, Kenzi McSpadden and Deanie Woodruff and freshman Emma Eden, Tippi Lane and Marta Vildere.

PRESEASON PROJECTIONS — Seniors Kate Clermont and McKenna Thomas as well as junior Gabriella Perez all earned spots on the All-WCC preseason team, while the Waves were picked to finish second in the West Coast Conference preseason poll.

LOOKING AHEAD — Next week, the Waves will take a trip down the road to Los Angeles, Calif. to compete in the Battle 4 L.A. on Friday and Saturday. Pepperdine will take on tournament hosts USC and UCLA in addition to Concordia and CSUN next weekend.

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 20 schools to have accomplished this feat — and 10 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 26 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, four times (most recently in 2022-23). 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 #80 overall on U.S. News and World Report's list of America's best colleges.

FOLLOW
Follow @WavesBeachVB on Facebook and X for immediate updates, results and more. Go to PepperdineWaves.com for all information, releases and schedules. Find the Waves on Instagram @peppbeachvolley.