Killing the ball on the opponent’s side blocking with no fear and picking up balls that looked like they have hit the ground has led the No. 2-ranked Pepperdine men’s volleyball team to come to victory in 11 of 12 matches played.
This weekend the Waves will compete in two back-to-back home matches against the University of Hawaii No. 5. Last season Pepperdine won both games against Hawaii in the Aloha Sate.
“We have been working hard these last couple weeks without having any matches senior setter Kyle Luongo said, and getting better on our side of the net with more the focus on us has been important.”
“It is always hard to beat a good team two nights in a row so it will be a good test for us senior libero Sean Grubbs said. We just need to stay focused and execute the scouting report and we should win.”
After beating UC Santa Barbara in an epically long battle of five games Pepperdine is coming off an almost a two-week break that will be challenging when playing the Warriors this weekend.
“We have been off for a week so we need to come back strong and start out the series right senior outside hitter Brent Schirripia said. Every day is a new start and we have to be great on that night.”
Right now in the standings the Waves are tied atop the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation with no. 1 ranked Stanford. Although Pepperdine has beat the Cardinal each win and loss for the separate teams comes into play.
“Hawaii is one match out of first place in conference to be tied with us and Stanford Grubbs said, so they will be hungry to beat us.”
Being tied with the no. one ranked team is a huge jump from the beginning of the Wave’s season. Pepperdine began at No. 4 and dropped all the way down to a low No. 11.
It took a lot of hard work but the Waves moved back to the first place they held for two weeks straight. Some well-deserved wins and acknowledgement for Pepperdine has helped keep them high in the rankings.
The battle to be in the final four will be taking place in the Firestone Fieldhouse this week and next week after the two matches against Hawaii.
The matches taking place against Hawaii will be on Friday the 26th and Saturday the 27th at 7 p.m.
“Hawaii is a solid team Luongo said, and hopefully this weekend with the work we’ve put in we come out the better team.”