MALIBU, Calif. – The No. 8 Pepperdine men's volleyball team handed No. 3 USC its first conference loss of the season 3-1 in front of a packed Firestone Fieldhouse Saturday evening. The Waves obliterated their previous team-high in blocks with 17 total and kept the Trojans to their lowest scoring output of the season during the third set. Pepperdine's win was also the team's first over a top-5 opponent this season.
 
The night featured alumni recognitions for previous assistant coach Gary Sato, who returned on the USC bench in the same role, and Pepperdine Hall of Famer Linda Murphy, who played volleyball at Pepperdine from 1977-79. Waves scholar-athletes who achieved a 3.0 GPA or higher were also honored during the game.
 
BIG WAVES

• Cole Hartke (Fr./Barrington, Ill./Barrington HS): 18 kills, .342 hitting %, 2 aces, 5 digs, 5 blocks
• Ryan Barnett (R-Jr./Westhampton Beach, N.Y./St. Edward's): 16 kills, .194 hitting %, 3 aces, 22 serve-receptions, 3 digs, 4 blocks (2 solo)
• Gabe Dyer (Gr./San Clemente, Calif./UCSD): 42 assists, 12 digs, 1 block
• Jacob Reilly (Jr./Cyprus, Texas/CUI): 11 digs (season high), 2 assists, 26 receptions

 
WAVES VS. TROJANS
PEPPERDINE ATTACK BY SET
Set      K         E         TA        Pct       S/O      Pct
1          12        10        31        .065     16-25   64%
2          12        5          28        .250     14-20   70%
3          12        2          25        .400     13-16   81%
4          13        5          25        .320     15-21   71%
 
USC ATTACK BY SET
Set      K         E         TA        Pct       S/O      Pct
1          8          6          24        .083     16-21   76%
2          12        5          33        .212     14-25   56%
3          7          9          31        -.065    12-24   50%
4          12        4          25        .320     15-25   60%
 
PLAY-BY-PLAY
USC took the first set 25-21 in a tightly contested game marked by frequent momentum shifts and errors on both sides. Cole Hartke led the offense with several kills, assisted by Gabriel Dyer's consistent setting. The score was tied at 17 before the Trojans pulled ahead with a key run fueled by blocks and opponent errors. Despite timeouts and efforts by Pepperdine to recover, late service and attack errors sealed the set in USC's favor.
 
Pepperdine claimed the second set 25-20 after a tightly contested start. Both teams exchanged points early, but a mid-set surge led by Hartke and Mazur gave Pepperdine control. USC fought back to close the gap, but late errors and a service ace by Eadie secured the set and a 1-1 match total.
 
Pepperdine dominated the third set 25-15, keeping the Trojans to their lowest scoring output of the season. Ryan Barnett and Cole Hartke led a balanced offensive attack, while Matt Mazur contributed with strong net play and key blocks. USC struggled to find rhythm, with multiple attack errors and miscues, allowing Pepperdine to build a commanding lead. Two USC timeouts couldn't stop Pepperdine's momentum and the Waves closed the set with ease, securing the set win and holding a 2-1 advantage heading into the fourth.
 
The Waves jumped out to an early lead behind strong serving and attacking from Ryan Barnett and Cole Hartke. Despite a brief USC rally midway through the set, Pepperdine maintained control with consistent offensive execution and key defensive plays at the net. USC's errors and failed challenges proved costly, and Hartke delivered the final kill to seal the set and match at 25-21, 3-1.
 
UP NEXT
The Waves invite Jessup to Malibu next week for the team's last regular-season home matches, beginning Thursday, April 10 at 3:00 p.m.
 
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