The No. 6 Pepperdine men's volleyball team achieved a significant milestone by defeating No. 9 BYU in back-to-back matches at Provo for the first time in 24 years. After a shaky start losing the first set, the Waves rallied with a strong offensive performance, notably from Ryan Barnett and Cole Hartke, who led the team in kills. The victory not only improved Pepperdine鈥檚 record to 17-4 but also established them as a dominant force in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation with a perfect 8-0 record. Coach Jonathan Winder praised the team鈥檚 resilience and teamwork, highlighting their competitive spirit on the road.

By the Numbers
  • Ryan Barnett recorded a career-high 20 kills, hitting .643.
  • Pepperdine's attack averaged .412 compared to BYU's .268.
State of Play
  • Pepperdine has not won back-to-back matches in Provo since 2002.
  • The Waves have not achieved an 8-0 conference record this early since 2003.
What's Next

The Waves will host the No. 1 team, UCLA, in Malibu on Thursday before facing them again in Pauley Pavilion next Saturday. Fans are encouraged to participate by wearing white for the home game.

Bottom Line

Pepperdine's back-to-back victories at BYU underscore their current prowess in college volleyball, setting the stage for a highly anticipated matchup against UCLA. This performance signals the Waves' potential to contend for championships as they maintain their perfect conference record.