Pepperdine University
Santa Clara
No. 13 Water Polo Set to Host Pair of Conference Games This Weekend
10/16/2026 3:00:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
MALIBU, Calif. — No. 13 Pepperdine water polo (7-10, 1-1 WCC) will host a pair of ranked conference matchups this weekend at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool.Â
The Waves will take on No. 18 Santa Clara (8-8, 0-1 WCC) Saturday at 1 p.m. before a matchup with No. 16 San Jose State (6-10, 0-2 WCC) on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Saturday's 'Grow the Game' contest will feature free admission for all fans, while also being the program's Alumni Game. Fans can stick around after the contest for the annual alumni scrimmage. The first 75 fans in attendance will also receive a free Pepperdine tank top.
Both contests will be streamed live on ESPN+ with live stats available on the FOSH.
Saturday, Oct. 17 — 1 p.m.
No. 13 Pepperdine vs. No. 18 Santa Clara
WATCH | LIVE STATSÂ
Sunday, Oct. 18 — 1 p.m.
No. 13 Pepperdine vs. No. 16 San Jose State
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
LAST TIME OUT
- Pepperdine earned its first conference victory with a 16-15 win over Air Force in overtime
- Max Smirnov scored a buzzer-beating goal with a last-second heave after making a save.
- Erik Ionescu and Milo Joseph each recorded hat tricks for the Waves, with Joseph drawing a game-high six exclusions.
- Tyce di Pretoro and Charles Warmington each matched the team-high with four points as well to go along with three field blocks each.
GAME NOTES
- Pepperdine moved up to No. 13 in this week's CWPA poll. The Waves have maintained a top-15 ranking throughout the entirety of the season.
- The Waves had five players score multiple goals last time out against Air Force, featuring Erik Ionescu, Milo Joseph, Csanad Bella, Hunter Danko and Tyce di Pretoro.
- Pepperdine logged season-highs in steals (16) and field blocks (10) last Saturday as well in a team defensive effort.
- Erik Ionescu has led the Waves with 44 goals and 32 assists this season.
- Ionescu ranks third in the conference in assists with 32 and in points with 76.
- Ionescu has scored multiple goals in nine of his last 10 efforts.
- Hunter Danko has posted 36 goals this season which ranks sixth in the WCC and first among all freshmen in the conference.
- Danko has scored a goal in all 15 games that he's appeared in this season, including a streak of seven straight games with multiple goals.
- Danko earned WCC Player and Newcomer of the Week earlier this month, after logging three goals with an assist and steal at LMU. He has claimed conference Newcomer of the Week twice this season.
- Danko netted a career-high six goals against No. 1 UCLA on Sept. 26.
- Tyce di Pretoro ranks third on the squad with 35 points this season through 13 goals and 22 assists.
- di Pretoro currently ranks ninth in the WCC circuit with his 22 assists.
- Max Smirnov had eight saves last time out at Air Force while scoring his first goal of the season, a game-winner at the buzzer.
- Smirnov has posted a .443 save-percentage this season while leading the Waves with 25 steals this season, which leads the WCC.
- Smirnov also ranks second in the conference with 154 saves and third in save-percentage.
- Jackson Benners is tied for the conference-lead in the WCC with 11 field blocks this season.
- Cade Anderton and Brian Barnuevo have each logged 30 points this season to rank in the top-five on the team in points.
- Jon Carcarey has posted 16 goals, eight assists, ten steals and seven field blocks this season.
- Csanád Bella has contributed 12 goals, 19 steals and six field blocks on the season.
- Milo Joseph has paced the Waves with 49 drawn exclusions so far, to go along with 15 goals at center.
SERIES HISTORY
- The Waves have a 15-2 all-time record against Santa Clara.
- Pepperdine is 3-0 at home against the Broncos in the series history.
- The Waves are 4-0 against the Broncos in WCC play, including a 20-17 win in the WCC Quarterfinals this past season.
- Pepperdine is 23-11 all-time against San Jose State.
- The Waves have gone 11-1 in Malibu against the Spartans.
- San Jose State won both meetings in 2025, including an overtime game in the WCC Semifinals.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
- Santa Clara enters play ranked No. 18 in the country behind an 8-8 overall record.
- The Broncos have dropped four straight contests entering the weekend, with their lone WCC tilt to this point resulting in a 13-8 defeat to UC Davis.
- Riccardo De Simon and Charlie Engs have each collected over 40 points this season to lead the way for Santa Clara.
- San Jose State enters with a 6-10 overall record and are No. 16 in the CWPA rankings.
- The Spartans dropped their first pair of conference games last weekend against Pacific and UC Davis.
- San Jose is led by sophomore Sam Keightley who has collected 43 goals this season.
The Waves will head north next weekend for a trio of matches, beginning at Cal on Friday, Oct. 23 before a pair of neutral site matchups with Harvard and Brown on Saturday, Oct. 24.
ABOUT PEPPERDINE WATER POLO
Pepperdine water polo has seen success spanning decades under Terry Schroeder who gave the reins to Merrill Moses following the 2023 season. Highlighted by its national championship in 1997 with Moses as the starting goalie, the Waves have reached the NCAA Tournament on 13 occasions and recently won the inaugural WCC Regular Season Championship in 2023. Overall, the program has seen 67 athletes garner All-American honors while boasting a winning record in 37 of 51 seasons.
TICKETS
For more information on upcoming home events and to purchase tickets, visit here.
FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine water polo news, follow the Waves on social media @PepperdineMWP.
