Waves Say Goodbye with a Bang
You want to talk about going out with style? Pepperdine Men's Volleyball just slammed the door shut on the Firestone Fieldhouse era with a 3-0 sweep against the No. 6 USC Trojans, and it wasn't just any win. It was a statement. With 2,870 fans packed in, the Waves delivered one unforgettable night, marking their third consecutive win and 11 out of the last 12, leaving the Trojans looking for answers they couldn't find.
Let's set the scene. Senior Ryan Barnett, the redshirt opposite hitter, summed it up best: “We had a great game with a million people here and it was truly so special.” Special indeed, Ryan. This wasn't just any game. This was the last dance at Firestone, and the Waves danced all over USC's hopes.
The Numbers Don't Lie
When you look at the stats, the Waves were on another planet. They recorded 40 kills on 70 total attacks, alongside 38 assists, 17 digs, six blocks, and five service aces. Meanwhile, USC? Zero service aces and 16 attack errors. Pepperdine didn't just win; they dominated the numbers game.
The matchup started tight, with both teams trading blows. But Pepperdine's sophomore sensation, Cole Hartke, decided enough was enough, closing the first set 25-20 with two key kills. The second set was more of the same back-and-forth action until Barnett and Hartke once again took the reins, with freshman Noe Matthey tying the set at 21 before Aiden Tune sealed the deal with a service ace.
