Pepperdine University Athletics

Joel Lopata Career Statistics

PEPPERDINE 2012: Appeared in nine sets and six matches ... Set a career high with five blocks in just two sets worth of work against Hawaii (1/20) ... Recorded three kills and three blocks against Cal Baptist (2/15) ... Totaled three kills earned on a .286 hitting percentage, two assists, three digs and eight blocks as a junior ... Academically a senior and graduated at the end of the spring semester ... Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete ... Paper on a study of Pepperdine freshman selected by the 22^nd Annual Theodore Clevenger Undergraduate Honors Conference in Communication as one of the 'top rated essays on gender, popular culture, and careers.'

PEPPERDINE 2011: Saw action in three sets and two matches ... Made first career appearance versus UC San Diego (3/12) as a server ... Came in as a middle blocker against Harvard (3/15) ... Logged two attacks and a block assist in that match ... Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete.

PEPPERDINE 2010: Redshirted his freshman with the team.

CLUB: Played three years with Adversity Elite.

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Deerfield (Ill.) High School in 2009 ... Played three years on the varsity ... Named to the Chicago Sun-Times all-state second team as a senior and honorable mention as a junior ... Also made the Pioneer Press Lake Shore All-Area first team ... Posted 323 kills and 115 blocks as a senior, helping the school to its most successful season ever ... Team won conference and regional titles ... A member of the Deerfield Honor Society and an Illinois State Scholar.

PERSONAL: Born in Highland Park, Ill. ... Son of Michael and Lynda Lopata ... His father competed in wrestling at Illinois ... Has two siblings, Audrey and Laura ... Chose Pepperdine because "as a student, an athlete and a born-again Christian I thought I would grow more at Pepperdine than any other school."

FAVORITES: Enjoys reading and playing ultimate Frisbee ... Lists his sports hero as Eric Liddell ... Favorite pro volleyball player is Pepperdine alum Scott Wong ... Favorite pro sports team is the Chicago Bears ... Favorite book is Hamlet ... Favorite movie is Gladiator ... Favorite TV show is The Office ... Favorite musical artist is The Beatles ... Favorite sport other than volleyball is football ... Favorite thing about volleyball is "victory can be achieved by a determined team."