Friday, September 18
Malibu, Calif.
6:00 pm PT
Pepperdine University
vs
UC Santa Barbara
Photo by: Greg Bintz
Women's Volleyball Set for Matches Against UC Santa Barbara and USC
9/17/2026 6:11:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MALIBU, Calif. - Back in the 'Bu! Pepperdine women's volleyball is back at Firestone Fieldhouse for its only September home match, facing off against UC Santa Barbara on Friday night.
The match is slated for a 6:00 pm pacific start and can be seen live on ESPN+. Tickets can be purchased here.
Fans are highly encouraged to wear white as part of the 'whiteout' theme for the match. The first 150 students through the doors will receive a free t-shirt. Students will also receive a sandwich meal box from Urbane Cafe as part of the Late Night Lineup, which includes Hokey Pokey soft serve ice cream and Randy's Donuts. The Fieldhouse floor will be open post-match for additional fun and games.
The Waves are coming off a 3-3 road trip at the Bluejay Invitational and the Alyssa Cavanaugh Classic. Pepperdine fell to Tulsa and (at the time) 10th-ranked Creighton before defeating Arizona in five sets in Omaha, Nebraska. Last weekend, the blue and orange dropped the opener to Western Kentucky before sweeping Eastern Kentucky and taking down James Madison in four sets.
Pepperdine women's volleyball has reached 26 NCAA Tournaments since 1981 as one of the most successful collegiate programs on the West Coast. The 12-time WCC Champions Waves have consistently produced top talent with 21 All-American selections with honorees in six straight decades. With multiple Olympians going through the program, Kim Hill brought home the program's first gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games.
TICKETS
For more information on ticket packages and to purchase tickets for upcoming home events, visit here.
FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine women's volleyball news, follow the Waves on social media: @PepperdineWVB on Twitter/X, @pepperdinewvb on Instagram, and Pepperdine Women's Volleyball on Facebook.
The match is slated for a 6:00 pm pacific start and can be seen live on ESPN+. Tickets can be purchased here.
Fans are highly encouraged to wear white as part of the 'whiteout' theme for the match. The first 150 students through the doors will receive a free t-shirt. Students will also receive a sandwich meal box from Urbane Cafe as part of the Late Night Lineup, which includes Hokey Pokey soft serve ice cream and Randy's Donuts. The Fieldhouse floor will be open post-match for additional fun and games.
Pepperdine will have a quick turnaround and face No. 19 USC on Saturday night from the Galen Center in downtown Los Angeles. Fans who are able to make the short trek can purchase tickets here. The match will also be live on BTN+.It's only right as a @PepperdineWaves that you have good drip 💧👕
— Pepperdine Women's Volleyball (@PepperdineWVB) September 17, 2026
Be one of the first 150 students tomorrow night to get a 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀 t-shirt!
🎟️ | https://t.co/8W4iD6LEMN#MakeWaves pic.twitter.com/2dQiJgXnZw
The Waves are coming off a 3-3 road trip at the Bluejay Invitational and the Alyssa Cavanaugh Classic. Pepperdine fell to Tulsa and (at the time) 10th-ranked Creighton before defeating Arizona in five sets in Omaha, Nebraska. Last weekend, the blue and orange dropped the opener to Western Kentucky before sweeping Eastern Kentucky and taking down James Madison in four sets.
SCOUTING THE GAUCHOSTomorrow's the big day!
— Pepperdine Women's Volleyball (@PepperdineWVB) September 17, 2026
⚪️ WEAR WHITE
⚪️ be loud
🎟️ | https://t.co/8W4iD6LEMN#MakeWaves | @PepperdineWaves pic.twitter.com/jxyFUQxBh3
- The Gauchos officially hired Michael Henchy as the program's new head coach on February 12, 2026.
- During his time at Penn State, Henchy helped carry the Nittany Lions to the 2024 National title and a 35-2 season. He worked alongside the 2024 Big Ten Coach of the Year, Katie Schumacher-Cawley, and coached four All-Big Ten first team members, including Freshman of the Year Izzy Starck and unanimous selection Jess Mruzik. Three more Nittany Lions were also recognized with conference awards.
- The Nittany Lions maintained a 54-15 record during Henchy's tenure and also reached the NCAA tournament in 2025. Penn State's 2025 award roster featured an All-American, an All-American Honorable Mention, Big Ten Libero of the Year Gillian Grimes, and three additional conference awards. Three players also earned All-East Coast Region honors.
- Henchy is a first-time head coach and has the Gauchos off to an even 4-4 start after sweeping the Wildcat Classic (beating Tarleton State, Prairie View A&M, and Arizona), splitting the Gaucho Invitational (losing to Iowa State and beating Utah State), and falling to Wyoming, Colorado State, and South Dakota
- UCSB has lost three consecutive matches.
- Outside hitter Sophia Wendlick, a junior transfer from Creighton, was named Big West Offensive Player of the Week on August 31
- Wendlick was one of three transfers announced on March 25, including Auburn Tomkinson (outside hitter) and Ava Zamora (setter)
- Sophomore outside hitter Gabi Martinez was selected All-Big West preseason team, while the Gauchos were picked to finish third in the Big West. Cal Poly received all 11 first-place votes
- UCSB will battle Cal Poly in front of a nationally televised audience (ESPNU) on October 22.
- Pepperdine's defense was superb in 2025, and they look to build upon it this season.
- The Waves paced the West Coast Conference with 295 blocks last year, and returning junior Ella Piskorz led all conference qualifiers with 151 (next-best was 126).
- As of Thursday night (9-17-26), Piskorz ranks first in the country with 62 blocks, seven ahead of the next-best (55 each from Eliza Sharp, Texas A&M; Iye Okolo, CSUN; Eloise Brandewie, Creighton)
- Junior setter Tristen Raymond ranks 2nd on the team with 69 digs, which is also 21st currently in the West Coast Conference.
- Her 338 assists lead the team and ranks 2nd in the WCC
- Those 338 assists also rank 32nd in the country
- Defensive specialist Laine Briggs was absolutely sensational a couple of weekends ago, setting a career-high and a new Bluejay Invitational-best in digs with 35.
- Her 163 digs on the season pace the squad, slot 2nd in the conference, and are tied for 29th in the nation.
- Junior outside hitter Maggie Beauer tied a season-high in blocks (2.5) and digs (4) against Arizona on Sept. 6
- She also racked up a career-high 20 kills against Arizona, a five-set victory over the Wildcats
- Maggie's 88 kills are 2nd on the team and are one ahead of Ella Piskorz (87)
- This is Pepperdine's first home match since August 30 and is the lone home match of September.
- In its three home matches this year (as part of the Asics Classic from August 28-30), Pepperdine is 3-0 while having one nine sets and losing just three sets (W, 3-1; W, 3-0; W, 3-2)
- Junior outside hitter Chloe Pravednikov leads the squad with 12 kills
- Among all the season-highs Pepperdine players set against Arizona, Pravednikov was part of the brigade with a season-best 17 kills and 15 digs
- Chloe holds the team lead in points with 126.0 with Piskorz on her tail with 124.0.
Pepperdine women's volleyball has reached 26 NCAA Tournaments since 1981 as one of the most successful collegiate programs on the West Coast. The 12-time WCC Champions Waves have consistently produced top talent with 21 All-American selections with honorees in six straight decades. With multiple Olympians going through the program, Kim Hill brought home the program's first gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games.
TICKETS
For more information on ticket packages and to purchase tickets for upcoming home events, visit here.
FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine women's volleyball news, follow the Waves on social media: @PepperdineWVB on Twitter/X, @pepperdinewvb on Instagram, and Pepperdine Women's Volleyball on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
OH/OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
