Derek Sedam
Assistant Online Editor
A new year of sports is here. With the Riptide meeting upon us today, it’s time to get geared up and ready to go for the upcoming year.
While some whine and moan about not having a football team (it’ll never happen, sorry), Pepperdine’s plethora of sports offer something unique for everyone.
Forget the Loyola Marymount rivalry, which we have dominated for the last few years. Forget the basketball game against Gonzaga — those Bulldogs are leaps and bounds ahead of us. Here are the five games you absolutely must attend this semester to witness Pepperdine sports at its finest.
Women’s Soccer – Pepperdine Nike Challenge – Friday through Sunday
The women got off to a very slow start last week after not picking up a victory in their first three games (all at home). Tim Ward’s squad has yet to find their 2005 Sweet 16 form after a disappointing season last year, and expectations are high after three top 20 recruiting classes have come to Malibu.
With a nine game home stand to start the season, Ward needs to right the ship if he wants to avoid what happened last season when they started 0-4-1.
To get a “W” on the board, the Waves will have to defeat solid programs, such as San Diego, Northwestern and Iowa, when they host the prestigious Nike Challenge this weekend. Yikes.
Men’s Water Polo vs. Cal, Sept. 27
Freshmen, now is your chance to see how truly lucky you are and why you might want to make your stay here in Malibu a year or two longer. Pray for clear skies and hot weather, and take to the grassy knoll above the pool to catch one of the best water polo matches of the season.
With most of the key players returning from last year (senior Adam Hewko returns after training with the national team), the No.-7 Waves take on the 13-time national champion Bears. Don’t forget to lather up that sunscreen and take in the “other scenery” while you’re at it.
Women’s Volleyball at Saint Mary’s & Santa Clara, Oct. 2 & 4
There is nothing better than a quality road trip with the roommates to distress before midterms. No classes on Friday? Take a long and well-deserved three-day weekend, and head up the 101 to the city by the bay – experience everything San Francisco has to offer.
Our No.-16 women’s volleyball team makes the trip up to Northern California, battling for position in the tough West Coast Conference. Both Santa Clara’s Leavy Center and Saint Mary’s McKeon Pavilion are amazing places to catch a match and will no doubt be rocking when the Waves come.
Men’s Basketball vs. BYU, Nov. 18
The battle of religions is on. Last year’s game in Provo, Utah was known more for the interesting eye-poking defense by Jason Walberg than the hurting the Cougars laid down in a blowout.
Brigham Young’s school travels well, so expect a packed house for the first big basketball game of the season. Head coach Tom Asbury selected a tough non-conference schedule for his young team (games against Southern Cal, Arizona State and Georgia Tech come to mind), and a clean slate leads to no expectations.
An upset here could make a lot of noise in the college basketball world, so make sure to paint up and bring the decibels.
Don’t forget about the others
While I’m sure most of your attention will be on school this year, always try and catch sports that never get mentioned. Take in a cross-country meet Oct. 4, when the Waves host a multitude of other schools for the Pepperdine Invitational. The always-solid golf and tennis teams play year, offering many possibilities for you to make your own Pepperdine sports experience worthwhile.
