Match Notes

The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team, winners of eight of its last 10 matches, travels to No. 2 Pepperdine for a pivotal Mountain Pacific Sports Federation series beginning Friday, March 26 at Firestone Fieldhouse. The rematch is Saturday, March 27. Both matches begin at 7:00 p.m. PT (4:00 p.m. HT). 

 

The fifth-ranked Warriors (14-7, 10-6 MPSF) swept a two-match series against Long Beach State last weekend in Honolulu. UH moved into a tie for fourth place in the MPSF standings and are only two losses behind leaders Pepperdine and Stanford, who are both 10-4 entering this week's action.

 

Last weekend, UH needed four sets to defeat the 49ers in the first meeting and five in the rematch. As he's done all season long, opposite Jonas Umlauft led the Warrior attack, averaging 5.11 kills per set, while hitting .326 in the series. Outside hitter Joshua Walker tallied a season-high 28 kills on Saturday and concluded the series with a 4.78 kill average and .481 hitting percentage. The Warriors served 18 aces over the weekend, seven of which came from setter Nejc Zemljak on Friday.

 

The Waves have been equally as successful recently, having won 11 of their last 12 matches since starting the season 1-4. Pepperdine is in the middle of a six-match homestand and are currently 7-2 at Firestone Fieldhouse this season. Much like the Warriors, the Waves boast a freshman phenom in opposite Maurice Torres, who leads the team with a 4.24 kill average and 14 aces. The Riverside, Calif., native also averages 1.37 digs and 1.02 blocks per set.

 

Junior Corey Riecks is hitting a blistering .417 from his outside hitter position along with a hefty 3.92 kill average. As a team, the Waves are hitting .339, second-best in the MPSF, behind conference assist leader Kasey Crider (14.27).

 

Who: No. 5 Hawai'i (14-7, 10-6 MPSF) vs. No. 2 Pepperdine (12-5, 10-4 MPSF)

When: Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27

Time: 7:00 p.m. PT (4:00 p.m. HT) both nights

Where: Firestone Fieldhouse; Malibu, Calif.

Television Coverage: None

Video Streaming: www.PepperdineSports.com

Radio Coverage: None

Audio Webcast: None

Live Stats: Available at PepperdineSports.com

Series Information: Pepperdine leads 37-22

Series vs. Pepperdine: Pepperdine leads the overall series, 37-22, including an 18-7 advantage in Malibu, Calif. The Wave swept the season series in Honolulu last season and have won five of the last six meetings. In 2008, the Warriors upset the Waves in five, 30-26, 30-23, 26-30, 23-30, 15-13 in the regular season finale.

 

Up Next: The Warriors return to Honolulu for their final regular season homestand versus UC San Diego, Friday, April 2 and Saturday, April 3. Six seniors will be honored during the traditional Senior Night ceremony following Saturday's match.