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Men’s Basketball falls 80

Story Links Next Game: Auburn 1/7/2025 | 8 p.m. CT ESPN2 Longhorn Radio Network Jan. 07 (Tue) / 8 p.m. CT  Auburn COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Graduate guard Tramon Mark posted a team-high 14 points, but Texas (11-3, 0-1 SEC) dropped an 80-60 decision at No. 13/12 Texas A&M (12-2, 1-0 SEC) on Saturday night […]

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Men's Basketball falls 80

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Auburn

Next Game:
Auburn
1/7/2025 | 8 p.m. CT

ESPN2

Longhorn Radio Network

Jan. 07 (Tue) / 8 p.m. CT

 Auburn

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Graduate guard Tramon Mark posted a team-high 14 points, but Texas (11-3, 0-1 SEC) dropped an 80-60 decision at No. 13/12 Texas A&M (12-2, 1-0 SEC) on Saturday night at Reed Arena. The contest marked the first official Southeastern Conference game for the Longhorns, and it also was the first on-campus meeting between the two rivals since a 70-68 Texas victory in College Station on Feb. 6, 2012.

January 4, 2025

Team Notes

The contest was tied at 37-37 at halftime, and the Longhorns were within five points (57-52) before a late run by the Aggies over the final eight minutes sealed their victory.

Arthur Kaluma

Texas Basketball Postgame Notes

Texas A&M jumped out to a 4-0 lead after a Solomon Washington layup at the 18:05 mark, before the Longhorns answered with a 10-2 spurt over the next three-and-a-half minutes to grab a 10-6 advantage following a Johnson jumper with 14:38 left. The Aggies used a 5-0 run over the next minute to take an 11-10 lead after a pair of Pharrel Payne free throws at the 13:30 mark. Texas responded with an 11-2 run over the next three minutes to build a 21-13 advantage following a Mark three-pointer with 10:41 remaining.

Tre Johnson

Reed Arena (College Station, Texas)

Tramon Mark

Texas A&M responded with a 6-0 run over the next minute-and-a-half to increase its cushion to 63-52 following a Payne layup with 6:06 left. A Pope three-pointer cut the deficit to 63-55 at the 5:47 mark, but that was as close as the Longhorns could get for the remainder of the contest.

Attendance: 12,236

Jordan Pope

#13/12 Texas A&M 80, Texas 60

  • Saturday night’s contest marked the first official Southeastern Conference game for the Longhorns. Texas had spent the previous 28 seasons (1996-97 through 2023-24) in the Big 12 Conference.
  • This marked the first on-campus meeting between the two rivals since Feb. 6, 2012, when Texas claimed a 70-68 victory in College Station.
  • Texas dropped to 138-87 in the all-time series against the Aggies.
  • Despite tonight’s loss, the Longhorns have won six of the last eight and 43 of the last 54 meetings between the two schools since the start of the 1989-90 season.
  • Texas converted 85.0-percent (17-20) from the free throw line on the night.
  • The Longhorns posted a 16-5 advantage in fast-break points during the loss, including a 12-0 edge in the first half.

Mark converted 4-of-9 field goals, including 2-of-4 threes, and 4-of-4 free throws and added two assists in 22 minutes. Senior Arthur Kaluma recorded 13 points (4-8 FG, 4-4 FT) and seven rebounds in 31 minutes, and junior Jordan Pope tallied 12 points (3-6 threes) in 27 minutes. Freshman Tre Johnson registered 11 points (7-7 FT), two assists and a career-high two blocked shots in 33 minutes, while graduate Kadin Shedrick grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds in 27 minutes.

  • Reached double figures in scoring (11 points) for the 11th time in his career (12 games)
  • Set his career high in blocked shots (2)

Texas returns to action when it hosts No. 2/2 Auburn on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. Central at Moody Center, and the contest will be televised nationally by ESPN2.

  • Reached double digits in scoring (13 points) for the 12th time this year (14 games) and 80th time in his career (115 games)

The Aggies opened the second half with a 15-2 run and built a 52-39 cushion following a pair of Manny Obaseki free throws at the 14:38 mark. Texas A&M held a 56-43 lead after a Zhuric Phelps layup with 11:42 remaining, before Texas went on a 9-1 spurt over the next four minutes to trim the deficit to 57-52 after a pair of Mark free throws at the 7:48 mark.

  • Reached double digits in scoring (team-high 14 points) for the fifth time this year (10 games) and 63rd time in his career (117 games)

Texas A&M used a 10-3 spurt over the next two-and-a-half minutes to trim the margin to 24-23 after a pair of Washington free throws at the 8:00 mark. A Jayson Kent three-pointer extended the Texas cushion to 32-26 with 6:54 left, but the Aggies scored 10 straight points over the next four minutes minutes to take a 36-32 advantage following an Andersson Garcia layup at the 2:43 mark. The Longhorns closed the half with a 5-1 run to even the score at 37-37 at the break.

  • Reached double figures in scoring (12 points) for the eighth time this season (14 games) and 62nd time in his career (78 games)

Kadin Shedrick

  • Reached double digits in rebounds (10) for the second time this year (14 games) and seventh time in his career (122 games)
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NCAA announces 42 winter awardees for 2024-25 Postgraduate Scholarship program

Story Links The NCAA has awarded $10,000 to 42 exceptional student-athletes as part of its Postgraduate Scholarship program. These student-athletes, representing winter sports across all three NCAA divisions, have demonstrated outstanding academic achievements, athletic excellence and leadership within their communities.  Each year, the NCAA awards 126 postgraduate scholarships to student-athletes who have […]

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The NCAA has awarded $10,000 to 42 exceptional student-athletes as part of its Postgraduate Scholarship program. These student-athletes, representing winter sports across all three NCAA divisions, have demonstrated outstanding academic achievements, athletic excellence and leadership within their communities. 

Each year, the NCAA awards 126 postgraduate scholarships to student-athletes who have completed their final year of athletics competition. The scholarships are distributed three times annually — in the fall, winter and spring — providing 21 scholarships each to men and women per season. The award is a one-time, nonrenewable scholarship intended to support graduate study at an accredited institution.

Established in 1964, the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship program promotes and encourages graduate education by recognizing the Association’s most accomplished student-athletes. The program evaluates candidates on their athletic and academic achievements, campus involvement, community service and leadership. An equitable selection process ensures that all nominees, regardless of sport, division, gender or race, are considered fairly.

2024-25 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Winter Awardees

Men’s Awardees

2025 PgS Awardees - Men

  • Zach Bann, Miami (Ohio), swimming and diving
  • Jack Bell, Luther, swimming and diving
  • Mark Berlaga, Stanford, gymnastics
  • Adam Braunschweig, Emory, swimming and diving
  • Coby Carrozza, Texas, swimming and diving
  • Jeff Echols, Emory, swimming and diving
  • Brett Farmer, Wisconsin-Eau Claire, swimming and diving
  • Jake Foster, Texas, swimming and diving
  • Makena Ginoza, Hawaii, swimming and diving
  • Tyler Ignazzitto, Albertus Magnus, ice hockey
  • John Kersey, Memphis, rifle
  • Nolan Lahmann, Emory, swimming and diving
  • Luke Malone, University of Illinois Chicago, indoor track and field
  • Zack Mattin, Michigan, wrestling
  • Alex McCormick, Washington University in St. Louis, swimming and diving
  • Nolan McKenna, Trinity (Connecticut), indoor track and field
  • Zach Moore, Washington and Lee, indoor track and field
  • Cael Schmitt, University of Northern Iowa, basketball
  • Andrew Simmons, Auburn, swimming and diving
  • Dylan Yin, Emory, swimming and diving
  • Jared Zhang, University of Chicago, swimming and diving

Women’s Awardees

2025 PgS Awardees - Women

  • Addi Barnes, Kansas, swimming and diving
  • Bobbi Bazzle, Henderson State, basketball
  • Sylvie Binder, Columbia, fencing
  • Dyauni Boyce, Montana State Billings, basketball
  • Ollie Bream, Wooster, swimming and diving
  • Addison Brooks, Kansas, indoor track and field
  • Claire Conover, Drury, swimming and diving
  • Molly Craig, Williams, swimming and diving
  • Evie Dice, Wayne State (Michigan), swimming and diving
  • London Eldridge, Olivet, indoor track and field
  • Annika Esvelt, Seattle Pacific, indoor track and field
  • Sydney Geboy, Kenyon, swimming and diving
  • Madison Gruender, UC Santa Cruz, swimming and diving
  • Nina Kucheran, Florida State, swimming and diving
  • Rachel Loh, MIT, swimming and diving
  • Bri Roberson, Georgia, swimming and diving
  • Merissah Russell, Louisville, basketball
  • Mia Strazny, Northern Michigan, swimming and diving
  • Audrey Wethington, Minnesota, ice hockey
  • Loral Winn, Ole Miss, indoor track and field
  • Kyra Wu, UC San Diego, fencing



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Div. 1 powers run roughshod over game – Boston Herald

In late March, there were three common opinions among coaches about the Div. 1 boys volleyball field: One – the path to the state quarterfinals would be a minefield of parity between a dozen or so teams. Two – that minefield doesn’t include the power four from the Bay State Conference, which would likely be […]

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In late March, there were three common opinions among coaches about the Div. 1 boys volleyball field:

One – the path to the state quarterfinals would be a minefield of parity between a dozen or so teams.

Two – that minefield doesn’t include the power four from the Bay State Conference, which would likely be in a class of its own.

Three – that power four, should it actually come down to them, will trade blows in an epic race for the Div. 1 state title.

Well, Brookline (12-1), Newton North (12-3), Natick (11-2) and Needham (13-2) are a combined 48-8 entering Saturday, with less than two weeks left in the regular season.

All eight of those losses have come in their head-to-heads. They’re 40-0 against everyone else.

“That’s crazy,” said Newton North head coach Nile Fox. “It just shows you the talent of the Bay State. It’s huge. It’s cool, and it sucks at the same time, to be around competition like this. But I think it just really pushes us, and I’m glad to be a part of it. All these talented teams and (we’re) able to compete with them. It’s really cool.”

“It’s a geographic radius where at least one of the towns touches another town at some point, where you have a rare hotbed of volleyball in Massachusetts,” said Needham head coach Dave Powell. “So far, it’s proven this year that we’ll be tested in other ways, and so will Newton North and other people. Everybody has beaten everyone else, aside from Brookline.”

The conference has earned accolades in a show of success even before Powell’s Rockets won three consecutive titles and a trip to a fourth straight.

At least one Bay State Conference team has reached the state semifinals in every tournament since 2010 but one. At least two have reached the stage in six of the last eight. Needham, Newton North and Natick each have at least two state final trips since 2007. All three have at least one title, too, and the power four has punched three Final Four tickets in the last two state tournaments.

And yet, this year’s showing is still on pace for something rare.

Every set of MIAA Div. 1 power rankings so far this year has all four as the favorites to reach the Final Four. It would be the first time in any MIAA sport that one conference took all four spots of a division’s Final Four in the young history of the newer statewide format.

If they get there, expect fireworks. Needham and Newton North split their two matchups in five and four sets. Brookline’s first loss of the year just came to Natick in five. Brookline also went to five in a win over Newton North, and there’s high anticipation for its rematches with the Tigers and Needham.

“It’s just going to be exciting matches with the rivalry we’re creating right now,” said Brookline head coach Lexi De La Cruz. “The times we’ve struggled this year with teams was Newton North and Natick. My team, they didn’t play their best and the other teams played really good. In playoffs, that could happen with any team. We’re in a phase we’re if you’re not playing your best and you’re playing one of these teams, it’s going to be really hard to win.”

“This year in general, it’s not clear who’s going to win,” Fox added. “In the past, everybody knew that Needham was that team. I think this year, anybody can be that team. … I just feel like everybody right now is at the same place and it’s just going to be competition.”

Part of those fireworks is a testament to the four’s overwhelming talent battling toe-to-toe.

Brookline’s Kris Vaivars, Newton North’s Simon Vardeh (committed to Harvard), and Natick’s Branch Barnes are the leading candidates for Div. 1’s top outside hitter. Needham’s Andrew Kurdziel leads discussion for top middle hitter. Newton North’s Brady Dwyer is among the best liberos, Brookline’s Alec Smagula is a premier setter, and there’s a wealth of complementary pieces around each who could be the top weapons for many other programs.

“Simon Vardeh is a legit Div. 1 (collegiate) player,” Powell said. “(Barnes) is, in my opinion, a high-level college player, and I think (Vaivars) could be too. Those are three really, really talented, strong, athletic dudes playing outside hitter for these teams. And Andrew Kurdziel is one of the top middles in the state, if not the top middle. You’ve got some high-level athletes (to play against).”

Within those battles is a unique mix of brotherhood, rivalry and history.

Before and after games, opposing players and coaches are seen chatting as friends – a bond built not only through the conference, but with many of them playing club volleyball together.

As individuals, they’re tight. As opposing teams, it’s war.

“I think when we’re playing each other, it’s rivalry,” Barnes said. “But if anyone else talks about some other team that might come in the top-four, we defend each other. We’re the top four (together), but when we see you one on one, we want to beat you. It’s so exciting (to be a part of).”

“It’s a brotherhood, but ultimately, it becomes competition,” Fox added. “They want to go back to club season and be able to say they won a state championship, or they won the Bay State, or they got the best of each other. Even if it’s just those matches. It’s a lot of brotherhood, but it’s a lot of competition, too.”

For the past two years, Newton North and Needham have met in the state final, trading championships. To reach the last one, Needham had to beat Brookline in the state quarterfinals, and Newton North needed a miraculous reverse sweep over Natick in the Final Four.

The year before that, Brookline upset Natick in the state quarterfinals and nearly upended Newton North with a reverse sweep in the state semifinals – though the Tigers won the fifth set.

“(History) definitely does (feed into it),” Barnes said. “Our loss to Brookline my sophomore year in the (quarterfinals) is something that we will never forget. That was horrible. We’ve come back and we play with that fire it put in us every day. That does add to it. We’ve seen each other in the playoffs, we know we’re going to see them in the playoffs. We know that we’re the top four teams and it might end up being the Final Four.”

“Personally, I want to win a lot,” added Newton North senior setter Paul Nelson. “If another team amongst us four beats me, I’m very upset. Whenever we lost to Natick and we lost to Brookline, those are very tough losses. If any of the teams besides us win, I will be very unhappy.”

Obviously, nothing is a given for these four to reach the state semifinals. Programs like Lexington, Cambridge and New Bedford are among a next-tier group that could interrupt those runs, and Milford made it tough on Newton North in a 3-1 match last week.

For now, though, all signs point to the power four in the state semifinals.

That’s a crap-shoot worth getting excited for.

“All of us have a shot,” Nelson said.



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High school boys’ volleyball: Playoff results and updated pairings

SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS FRIDAY’S RESULTS DIVISION 1 Pool A #1 Mira Costa d. #4 Corona del Mar, 25-13, 25-21, 25-20 Pool B #2 Huntington Beach d. #3 Loyola, 25-16, 25-21, 25-21 SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE (Games at 6 p.m. unless noted) DIVISION 1 Pool B (Round 3 of 3) #7 Redondo Union at #6 Newport […]

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SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

DIVISION 1

Pool A

#1 Mira Costa d. #4 Corona del Mar, 25-13, 25-21, 25-20

Pool B

#2 Huntington Beach d. #3 Loyola, 25-16, 25-21, 25-21

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

(Games at 6 p.m. unless noted)

DIVISION 1

Pool B (Round 3 of 3)

#7 Redondo Union at #6 Newport Harbor, 12 p.m.

SEMIFINALS

DIVISION 2

Mater Dei at St. Francis, 4 p.m.

St. Margaret’s at Peninsula, 5 p.m.

DIVISION 3

North Torrance at Tesoro

Orange Lutheran at Warren

DIVISION 4

Santa Barbara at Corona Santiago, 4 p.m.

Crean Lutheran at Sage Hill

DIVISION 5

Newbury Park at Esperanza

Vista Murrieta at Kennedy

DIVISION 6

Village Christian at Quartz Hill

Laguna Blanca at El Toro

DIVISION 7

San Jacinto at Brea Olinda

Brentwood at San Gabriel Academy, Monday at 4 p.m.

DIVISION 8

Lancaster Desert Christian a Katella, 2 p.m.

Wildwood at Avalon

DIVISION 9

CAMS at San Jacinto Valley

Beverly Hills at Downey, Monday at 5 p.m.

Note: Open Division pool play (third round), semifinals in Divisions 2-9 May 10; Finals in all divisions May 16 or 17.



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Inside the Abrupt End of Grand Canyon Men’s Volleyball

Inside the Abrupt End of Grand Canyon Men’s Volleyball Privacy Manager Link 0

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Inside the Abrupt End of Grand Canyon Men’s Volleyball


































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Flavor Flav shares update on the U.S. Women’s Water Polo team ahead of 2028 Olympics

Flavor Flav spoke about how the U.S. Olympic Women’s Water Polo team is doing ahead of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Flavor Flav sponsors the United States Women’s Water Polo team(Image: Flavor Flav (Raising Cane’s) and United States Women’s Water Polo team (USA Water Polo)) Flavor Flav has given an update on the United […]

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Flavor Flav spoke about how the U.S. Olympic Women’s Water Polo team is doing ahead of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Flavor Flav and the US women's Olympic water polo team
Flavor Flav sponsors the United States Women’s Water Polo team(Image: Flavor Flav (Raising Cane’s) and United States Women’s Water Polo team (USA Water Polo))

Flavor Flav has given an update on the United States Women’s Water Polo team ahead of the 2028 Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles.

The rapper launched a nationwide campaign with Raising Cane’s last month, with the theme being “Flavor Fast” – which is all about “flavor and needing it fast.” Speaking exclusively to The Mirror US at the event, Flav shared how the women’s water polo team are doing as they prepare for the 2028 competition following their appearance at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

“The team has been doing great so far. When the girls are not in the water competing, they’re also home living active, regular lives, working two and three jobs,” Flav shared. “So that’s what really had me go out and support these girls.”

READ MORE: Simone Biles casts new doubt on Olympics future and names her replacementREAD MORE: Macklemore supports Kehlani after her shows are cancelled for Palestine support

“So far, since they’ve been home from Paris, they’ve all been doing good,” he added.

Members of Team United States jump into the pool before the Women's Preliminary Round - Group B match between Team Greece and Team United States on day one of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Aquatics Centre on July 27, 2024 in Paris, France
Flavor shared a positive update on the women’s polo team (Image: Getty Images)

It was announced in July 2024 that the Public Enemy co-founder signed a five-year deal to sponsor and be the official hype man of the women’s and men’s national water polo teams. Part of the sponsorship includes financially contributing to the 2024 USA Women’s Water Polo Olympic Team. In previous interviews, Flav has spoken about the girls having multiple jobs when they’re not playing water polo as one of the reasons he became a sponsor.

At the press conference at the Raising Cane’s campaign event at their flagship Las Vegas restaurant, Flav spoke about how he always dreamt of being at the Olympics and that the dream finally came true when he was given the opportunity to sponsor the water polo team and head to the 2024 Olympics in France.

He called the experience “breathtaking” as he had his family there with him and got to witness Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles win gold in the women’s gymnastics team final. He also named meeting tennis legend Billie Jean King and seeing the women’s Rugby game as they won bronze as one of his major highlights.

Flavor Flav and Jessica Long at Raising Cane's "Flavor Fast" campaign launch on April 23 in Las Vegas, Nevada
Flavor Flav gave 18-time Paralympic gold medalist Jessica Long a limited-edition custom Raising Cane’s x Flavor Flav clock necklace(Image: 2025 Denise Truscello)

Flav mentioned how proud he was of Snoop Dogg at the Paris Olympics and how he got to carry the torch. He expressed wanting and hoping to do the same honor at the 2028 Olympics: “Cross my heart to say, 2028 when the Olympics come to LA, your boy. Flavor, Flav, gets to be a torch bearer.”

As a celebration of the campaign, limited-edition custom Raising Cane’s X Flavor Flav clock necklaces were sold at the chain’s gear website and the net proceeds went to the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF). The custom-made bedazzled clocks were designed and made by jeweler Kelly Salvagio of Rock N Stonez, who also crafts Flav’s signature clocks.

Flav wore the limited-edition clock necklace at the launch. He also gifted one to 31-time Paralympic medalist and WSF captain Jessica Long to personally honor the 18-time Paralympic gold medalist as well as to commemorate the partnership and donation to WSF.



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Final Four Bound, the Pepperdine University Men’s Volleyball Team Is Equipped to Handle Adversity | Newsroom

“What makes us unique is that, when it gets close and everyone gets tense, our team thrives,” says Ryan Barnett, an outside hitter for Pepperdine University’s men’s volleyball team. “It’s the opposite of most people.” Pepperdine men’s volleyball team celebrating their berth into the final four Barnett offered these comments in the postgame press conference […]

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“What makes us unique is that, when it gets close and everyone gets tense, our team
thrives,” says Ryan Barnett, an outside hitter for Pepperdine University’s men’s volleyball team. “It’s the opposite
of most people.”

Pepperdine men's volleyball team celebrating their berth into the final fourPepperdine men’s volleyball team celebrating their berth into the final four

Barnett offered these comments in the postgame press conference following the Waves
quarterfinal victory over Loyola Chicago on Thursday, May 8.  In that contest, Pepperdine
dropped the first set and  was forced to fend off three set points in the second  to
avoid falling behind 0-2 in the match. As pressure built, Barnett and his teammates
didn’t flinch. They settled in and seized sets two, three, and four—a reverse sweep—to
earn a spot in the NCAA final four.

Now the Waves take on Long Beach State—a non-conference rival who defeated them in
five sets early on in the year. With the stakes at an all-time high, Pepperdine needs
to play its best on the game’s biggest stage. But after overcoming a year of unexpected
hardships—including devastating wildfires—this particular group of Waves are equipped
to do just that. 

“A huge identity of our group is our toughness,” says Jonathan Winder (’08), Pepperdine University’s men’s volleyball head coach. “We’ve been through an
insane amount this year. The adversity we’ve battled through has been fantastic and
has really prepared us for these moments.”

A Stress-Filled Start

On January 7, 2025—one week into the collegiate men’s volleyball season—black smoke
began to billow over the Pacific Ocean. On that day, the Palisades Fire erupted and
burned quickly through the Santa Monica Mountains toward Malibu. At the same time,
other blazes broke out as record high winds battered Southern California. In total,
37,000 acres were burned, and 16,000 structures were destroyed.

As the inferno spread, Pepperdine’s men’s volleyball team relocated their early season
practices to Long Beach. Unable to travel to campus because of road closures, the
Waves stayed in a hotel together near their new training facility and watched as the
community around them managed the natural disaster.

“It was scary,” says Grant Lamoureux, a redshirt freshman on the team. “I feel like
no other team has gone through something like that this year . . . The team got close
by finding ways to make it through hard times like that.”

In the face of this initial adversity, the Waves squad and season was altered. The
catastrophe raging around them forced them to slow down, take things one day at a
time, and be grateful for one another and the game that brought them together. More
than anything though, the Los Angeles wildfires gave Pepperdine something to play
for. 

“Anytime you see such suffering, it produces something,” says Winder. “For us, it
produced more pride in the community where we live. We wanted to rally behind it and
support it.”

While practicing and living in Long Beach, the team volunteered to help with fire
relief efforts. They loaded semitrucks with clothes and water for those living in
affected areas. They met their neighbors in a time of need. And when the time came
to take to the court again, the Waves did so with greater unity and purpose than ever.

A Willingness to Pivot

Hopping back into the season after a difficult start to the year was not easy given
the Waves challenging schedule. Of the 29 matches they played, 17 of them were against
nationally ranked opponents, including a string of particularly grueling games against
Long Beach State, Loyola Chicago, and California State University, Northridge (CSUN).

In these three matches, Pepperdine went 0-3. They lost in five sets to Long Beach
State and Loyola Chicago in consecutive matches. Being so close but unable to escape
with the wins, Winder and his coaching staff felt like they needed to amp up the intensity
in practice heading into the contest against CSUN. Yet, after doing so, the Waves
lost again—that time in four sets.

“Following that match, we had some tough conversations with the players,” explains
Winder. “They gave us feedback that it was too much—they were too tired going into
that match . . . We ended up changing some practice structures and have adhered to
them ever since.”

Pepperdine men's volleyball team celebratingPepperdine men’s volleyball team celebrating

The team began to engage in shorter, more purposeful practice sessions. They prioritized
being fresh mentally and physically prior to matches, while still ensuring that they
had a grasp on the fine details of their opponents. 

These adjustments led to an immediate six-match winning streak, but more importantly,
overcoming adversity together engendered Winder’s team with a strong sense of trust
in one another. When things weren’t breaking their way competitively, the Waves began
to believe in their ability to preserve and win nonetheless—a strength that eventually
led them to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) tournament title and a berth
in the NCAA tournament.

The Trust Is Tested

In order to qualify for the NCAA tournament Pepperdine had to first defeat UCLA and
USC  in their conference championships. The Waves had battled both of these teams
earlier in the year, losing three times while winning only once against USC.

With the odds stacked against them, Pepperdine defeated UCLA in the semifinals and
beat USC in the championship to take the MPFS title—an unexpected result given the
individual contest stat lines. In both matches Pepperdine had lost in every single
statistical category—serves, kills, blocking, digs—but still managed to claim victory.

“We won with the ability to respond to adversity,” says Barnett. “That’s something
beautiful about volleyball. Everyone thinks you have to be a monster, who can hit
the ball as hard as you can. Everyone thinks you have to be seven foot to block a
ball. But that’s not the case. Being smart and being crafty are often the biggest
differences in these important matches.”

After a season full of lessons—on the court and off of it—Pepperdine is now prepared
for its biggest competitive challenge yet. In the final four, the Waves must take
down the number one team in the nation in order to compete in the national championship
match. However, if the 2025 season has proved anything, it’s that this particular
Pepperdine team thrives in pressure-packed situations like the one its now in.

“I’ve been impressed by them,” says Winder. “I haven’t had that feeling in a long
time. It’s impressive the pride they’ve taken in getting our program back to this
spot.”

The Waves take on Long Beach State, in the NCAA semifinals on Saturday, May 10, 2025,
at 2 PM PDT. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.





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