Sports
Unparalleled dominance by Ella Myers – Monterey Herald
MONTEREY – Fulfillment came with the experiences and celebrations Ella Myers was able to share with teammates.
The accolades of earning a podium finish at the state wrestling championships, or coming within a homer of tying the county record for home runs were magical.
Yet, while the multi-sport standout left a legacy at Monterey High, as well as a part of her heart on campus, Myers always felt there was more to achieve.
“I will never be content,” said Myers, who will pitch next year at UC Santa Barbara. “Even though I wanted more. I did what I could. I will always be a part of Monterey.”
Becoming the first female wrestler at Monterey to podium at the state championships, and the all-time leader in homers and wins in softball for the school, Myers was named The Herald’s Female Athlete of the Year.
A two-time Female Athlete of the Year, Myers also put together a solid water polo season for the Toreadores, who came within two wins of a school record.
“It (multiple sports) wasn’t just to fill time,” Monterey softball coach Travis Elder said. “It was the need to compete and push herself. I don’t think Ella could be complacent if she wanted to.”
Myers became the second highest state wrestling finisher in county history after placing sixth at 140 pounds, while hitting .552 and posting a 0.89 earned run average in the circle for the Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division champion Toreadores.
With a softball scholarship locked up during her junior season, it never crossed Myers’ mind to turn her attention solely to just one sport.
Instead, she evolved into a key component on the Toreadores water polo team, while becoming one of the top wrestlers in the state — where she won over 100 matches in four years.
“A lot of the mechanics in softball translate in water polo,” Elder said. “The core strength, let alone the arm strength, while not standing on the ground. We encouraged our baseball kids to play polo. It transformed their bodies.”
Water polo might have been the most challenging sport for Myers, who is pitching next weekend for the Philippine National softball team. By her own admission, she’s not a great swimmer.
“I just tried not to drown,” Myers said. “There were girls better and faster than me. But I think I helped lay a foundation and created a positive environment.”
Myers became a defensive demon with 32 steals, at times resorting to her wrestling skills in the water to hold down an opponent and limit their scoring opportunities.
Blessed with a powerful right arm, the 18-year-old evolved into an offensive weapon with 35 goals, converting 51 percent of her attempts.
“I made a lot of friends in water polo,” Myers said. “I’m a seasonal player. These girls embraced me as part of the team. It’s a bulldog program. The team bonding is what sticks out for me.”
Had softball not been a part of Myers’ life from the time she was old enough to pick up a ball, wrestling might have been her sport of choice.
A four-time Gabilan Division champion on the wrestling mats, Myers won a Central Coast Section title and reached the state meet three times.
“I could tell from my first year that I could be really good at this,” Myers said. “You can’t be successful in wrestling if you don’t have that drive. My competitiveness helped with that.”
Because wrestling is also a seasonal sport for Myers, meeting the challenge of facing opponents who will likely compete in college tested her mental fortitude.
Myers has never had the time to work on her craft in the off-season. Yet, it didn’t change her vision in chasing a podium finish at the state wrestling championships this past winter.
“I would have looked at this season as a failure if I didn’t podium,” Myers said. “Oy my gosh, girls at state are scary. They will try and kill you. It’s not their hobby. But I wanted to be on the big stage.”
So much so that Myers actually took time off from her normal off-season routine in softball to put her full attention into wrestling for the stretch drive.
“I probably took more time off than I should have for wrestling,” Myers said. “But there is no next year for me in wrestling. I wouldn’t call it a distraction. It helped me more than it hurt me.”
With the understanding that each match could be her final after suffering a loss in the third round, Myers staged off elimination with three straight wins at the state finals.
“It was a lot more adrenaline and a little less strategy,” Myers said. “I felt the urgency. I don’t have an offseason. I was so done after my last match. But I wanted that medal.”
Emotionally drained and physically spent, Myers placed sixth at 140 pounds to become the first female at Monterey to place at state.
“It’s probably the last time I will wrestle competitively in my life,” Myers said. “I didn’t want to have any regrets. I’m going to miss it so much. None of this happens without the support of my coaches and family.”
Myers was part of a program that also brought home the school’s first Central Coast Section team title – just the second in county history.
“I’m proud of that accomplishment,” Myers said. “I feel like we’ve set the foundation for the other girls coming up. The bar has been raised in a sport that is growing.”
Of course, with wrestling extending into the spring, Myers had to shake off the rust when stepping back into the circle for softball.
While she homered in her second game a week after her last wrestling match, she needed to polish up her mechanics in the circle.
“Throwing a bullpen session and throwing in a game are so different,” Myers said. “Pitching an inning here or there, it doesn’t work for me. I knew from past years not to ease into it.”
Elder, who was in his first season as the team’s softball coach after two decades as a baseball coach, didn’t want to lean on Myers too much as a pitcher.
“One of the hardest things is balance,” Elder said. “Ella is a little different. In order to build her up to strength, she needed to be used. The usage is the detriment.”
Elder leaned on his wife and assistant coach Katherine to gauge Myer’s stamina earlier in the season.
“For me, I learned to ask the right questions and not just trust ‘I’m good to go,’ but ‘why?’” Elder said. “My wife was the only one on staff that played softball. She had a better feel. A lot of teenagers don’t have the answers. Ella had the answer.”
As her mechanics improved, Myers became nearly unhittable, posting a 12-2 record with an 0.89 earned run average, striking out 142 hitters in just 93 innings.
“I was in the best shape of my life coming out of wrestling,” Myers said. “But that’s cardio and mindset. After the first game, my back was so sore. It’s about mechanics and timing. I told Travis I need innings.”
A four-time member of the all-county team, Myers tore up pitching, hitting .552 with a .629 on-base percentage, helping the Toreadores to a share of the Gabilan Division title.
Myers, who hopes to hit and pitch at Santa Barbara, ripped nine homers in 21 games, drove in 28 runs, scored 39 runs and stole eight bases.
“I’ve talked to the coaches at Santa Barbara,” said Myers, who pitched Monterey to two CCS titles and a NorCal crown during her four years. “It’s not a given that I’ll be in the lineup. But I’ll get a fair shot. It’s the same for being a position player.”
In an effort to get her bat in the lineup on her travel team, Myers has played first base, second base, and left and right field during the summer.
“I still consider myself a pitcher first,” Myers said. “That’s my main focus. Hitting comes a very close second. If I want to be in the lineup, it helps that I can play a position on the field.’’
Having hit 65 mph on the radar gun, Myers paints corners and finds her spots with a riser, curve, screwball, fastball and change-up.
“It just feels right when the ball is in my hands,” Myers said. “That is what I’ve been meant to do. I believe I can do what I want if I set my mind to it. I have no fear of messing up. I like being in control. It’s the best feeling in the world.”
While there are few regrets, failing to tie or break the county home run record is something that Myers thinks about.
“It’s actually something I think about a lot,” said Myers, who came up one homer short of tying the county record of 36. “I’m not going to lie. But I think DaNae (Lee) will break it next year anyway.”
For as driven and competitive as Myers is with anything she attempts, she emphasized the importance of creating a culture on campus that made high school sports fun.
“Sports is just one of the vehicles in her life,” Elder said. “She was always working to better herself in some capacity. But she enjoyed the moment. I don’t think the competitive juices will ever stop flowing, no matter what she does in life. She’ll probably be the first one in line to pick up her kids someday.”
Originally Published:
TRYON, N.C. – The High Point University women’s track and field team traveled to the western part of the state to compete at the Tryon International Collegiate Opener hosted by Big South Conference foe UNC Asheville. The Panthers used this meet as practice for the Big South Indoor Championships that will take place at the same facility at the end of February.
High Point had a group of throwers and combined events student-athletes make the trip.
In the throwing events, Ashlyn Giles broke her own program record in her second meet as a Panther in the shot put. She threw a 15.43m throw for first place which was 0.43m farther than her previous record. She also competed in the weight throw and launched the weight 15.32m for third place.
Vanessa Kobialka placed in second behind Giles in the shot put with a 13.27m throw. Jill Stroup placed fourth in the weight throw and matched Giles’ throw with a 15.32m launch.
Jhanelle Thomas and Mya Hines competed in the 60m hurdles and crossed the finish line in back-to-back times as Thomas registered a 9.08 time and Hines posted a 9.25 time for fourth and fifth place respectively. Thomas also competed in the high jump and cleared 1.47m for a six-way tie for third. Kaitlyn Green was right there with Thomas in the high jump also clearing 1.47m for third place.
UP NEXT: High Point travels to Blacksburg, Virginia for the Virginia Tech Invitational on January 16-17.
#GoHPU x #OnTheProwl
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – East Carolina opened the indoor season with several strong performances at the Rod McCravy Memorial Meet, hosted by the University of Kentucky at the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center, highlighted by a program-record run from Kelly Ufodiama and multiple finals appearances across the two-day competition.
Ufodiama delivered the standout performance of the meet for the Pirates, setting a new ECU program record in the women’s 60-meter dash semifinals with a time of 7.14. The mark further cemented her place atop the record book, as she now holds the top eight performances in program history in the event.
On the men’s side, East Carolina made a strong statement in the sprints. Tyson Tippett finished runner-up in the men’s 60-meter dash finals, clocking 6.85, while Jace Coleman added a fourth-place finish at 6.89 to give the Pirates two top-four finishes in one of the meet’s deepest events.
The Pirates also found success in the hurdles, where Kailey Elliott advanced through the rounds to place fourth in the women’s 60-meter hurdles finals with a time of 8.27. Her performance marked one of ECU’s top technical-event finishes of the weekend.
Abrielle Schweitzer continued her strong indoor campaign with a third-place finish in the women’s mile, crossing the line in 4:52.34. On the men’s side, Alex Sawyer placed ninth in the mile with a time of 4:14.67, while Elliott Kleckner followed closely in 11th at 4:21.33.
Additional solid efforts came in the 300 meters, where Brianna Clayton finished 13th in the women’s race at 38.70, and in the men’s 600 meters, where Jordan Good narrowly missed the podium with a fourth-place finish in 1:18.34.
In the field events, Shakiel Dacres led the way for East Carolina with a sixth-place finish in the men’s shot put with 16.66m. Dacres’ performance marked the Pirates’ top result in the throws.
East Carolina finished strong over the weekend and will look to carry their victories toward the Dick Taylor Challenge, hosted by North Carolina starting January 16.
Sports
Track & Field Wins Six Events, Topples School Record in Excellent Close to Rod McCravy Memorial – Ole Miss Athletics
All-American sophomore Jordan Urrutia, fresh off a strong freshman campaign, set right to work on his second season with the Rebels. Urrutia clocked the fastest proper 300-meter race in Ole Miss history (trailing only a converted 300-yard time on an oversized track by Olympian Tony Dees in 1984), finishing second overall in a blistering 33.06 seconds. That time dropped nearly three-quarters of a second off his freshman best 33.71, and trailed only a 32.89 by Indiana’s Trelee Banks-Rose.
Fellow sophomore Wesley Todd clocked a PR of his own, finishing 10th at 34.07.
The duo were not done there, though, as Ole Miss would close the day with an excellent opening 4×400-meter relay for the 2026 season. The quartet of senior Joshua Knox, Todd, senior Cade Flatt and Urrutia passed the stick in 3:08.85 – which ranks fourth-best in Ole Miss history indoors and is the fastest by any Rebel relay indoors since the 2004 record of 3:06.83.
Ole Miss was particularly excellent on the back half, with Flatt dropping a 46.93 third leg and then Urrutia blazing a 45.45 anchor leg.
The success on the track did not stop there for the Rebels. Earlier in the day, Patchnalie Compere ran the fastest time ever by an Ole Miss freshman in the women’s 300-meter dash, winning the event overall at an eye-opening 37.40. Olympian and three-time NCAA Champion McKenzie Long set the Ole Miss record in the event at 37.38 in 2023 on Vanderbilt’s oversized track.
Senior Cassie Williamson, in her final year of competition this indoor season, took the crown in the women’s 800-meter at an Ole Miss career-best 2:08.51 – which ranks her seventh in school history indoors. Freshman Owen Kelley rounded out the track wins for Ole Miss with a victory in the 3K, clocking in at 8:16.11 in his collegiate debut.
Other notable runs on the track included a runner-up finish by senior Chase Rose in the 800-meter (1:49.56), a third-place finish and PR by Samuel Ferguson in the 3K (8:21.18), and a third-place 3K finish by freshman Leah Penick in her collegiate debut (9:45.89).
In the field, reigning NCAA Indoor shot put champion Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan began his title defense in earnest. Robinson-O’Hagan – a member of the preseason watch list for The Bowerman, college track & field’s version of the Heisman Trophy – won on a sixth-round blast of 20.76m/68-01.50 for his first win of the season, the best mark by an collegiate shot putter this early into the season (Jan. 10) in available records since at least 2008.
Freshman Ashton Hearn began his Ole Miss career with an impressive heave of his own, finishing third at 17.84m/58-06.50 – already good for No. 6 in school history indoors.
In the women’s edition, All-American junior Akaoma Odeluga had her best-ever season opening performance as well, winning on a blast of 17.92m/58-09.50. Freshman Natalie Brown also made the final, finishing ninth at 13.71m/44-11.75 in her first college shot put competition.
In the men’s triple jump, two key portal additions for the Rebels – juniors Sterling Scott (Missouri) and Kyle Johnson (UConn) – had great opening performances to their Ole Miss careers. Scott, a three-time NCAA qualifier with the Tigers, took runner-up honors at 15.97m/52-04.75 – already making him the sixth-best triple jumper in Ole Miss history indoors. Johnson was fourth at 15.67m/51-5, good for No. 12 in the Rebel record books.
Fellow junior Mikoy Holmes made the final as well, finishing eighth at a career-best leap of 14.81m/48-07.25.
Ole Miss will next head to Nashville for the Vanderbilt Invitational, which is set to run Jan. 16-17.
REBELS IN DAY TWO COMPETITION
Women’s 300-Meter Dash
1. Patchnalie Compere – 37.40 – Collegiate Debut, Ole Miss Freshman Record
51. Royannah Farmer – 41.04 – Division I Debut, First Career 300
Men’s 300-Meter Dash
2. Jordan Urrutia – 33.06 – PR, Ole Miss Proper 300-Meter Record
10. Wesley Todd – 34.07 – PR
Women’s 800-Meter
1. Cassie Williamson – 2:08.51 – Ole Miss Best, No. 7 Ole Miss History Indoors
Men’s 800-Meter
2. Chase Rose – 1:49.56
DNF Cade Flatt
Men’s Mile
2. John Shoemaker – 4:10.39 – Collegiate Debut
Women’s 3K
3. Leah Penick – 9:45.89 – Collegiate Debut
6. Hannah Doyle – 9:55.25 – Collegiate Debut
10. Brooke Preputnick – 10:09.99 – PR
11. Madison Archdale – 10:10.22 – Collegiate Debut
12. Addy Mitchell – 10:11.94 – Collegiate Debut
Men’s 3K
1. Owen Kelley – 8:16.11 – Collegiate Debut
3. Samuel Ferguson – 8:21.18 – PR
Men’s 4×400-Meter Relay
1. A Relay: Joshua Knox, Wesley Todd, Cade Flatt, Jordan Urrutia – 3:08.85 – No. 4 Ole Miss History Indoors
11. B Relay: Tarique Wright, Dekell Minor, Jonathan Stock, Chase Rose – 3:18.47
Men’s Pole Vault
5. Logan Kelley – 5.00m/16-04.75
Women’s Triple Jump
10. Indya Dotson – 11.94m/39-02.25 – PR, No. 15 Ole Miss History Indoors
11. Bayli Major – 11.83m/38-09.75 – Collegiate Debut
FOUL Madison Martinez
Men’s Triple Jump
2. Sterling Scott – 15.97m/52-04.75 – Ole Miss Debut, No. 6 Ole Miss History Indoors
4. Kyle Johnson – 15.67m/51-5 – Ole Miss Debut, No. 12 Ole Miss History Indoors
8. Mikoy Holmes – 14.81m/48-07.25 – PR
11. Solomon Finley – 13.96m/45-09.75 – Ole Miss Debut
Women’s Shot Put
1. Akaoma Odeluga – 17.92m/58-09.50
9. Natalie Brown – 13.71m/44-11.75 – Collegiate Debut, No. 15 Ole Miss History Indoors
12. Temidayo Owoyemi – 13.27m/43-06.50 – Collegiate Debut
Men’s Shot Put
1. Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan – 20.76m/68-01.50
3. Ashton Hearn – 17.84m/58-06.50 – Collegiate Debut, No. 6 Ole Miss History Indoors
26. Caughran Fowler – 10.91m/35-09.50
28. William Numnum – 10.56m/34-07.75 – Collegiate Debut
—–
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION
Men’s 60-Meter Dash – Prelims
7. Tarique Wright – 6.79q – PR, T-No. 11 Ole Miss History
Men’s 60-Meter Dash – Semifinals
11. Tarique Wright – 6.79 – Ties PR
Women’s 200-Meter Dash
27. Lizzie Hatton – 25.22 – Indoor PR
Women’s 400-Meter Dash
13. Patchnalie Compere – 59.17 – Collegiate Debut
Men’s 600-Meter
6. Jonathan Stock – 1:19.51 – PR
Men’s 1000-Meter
2. Stone Smith – 2:28.65 – Event Debut
Women’s 60-Meter Hurdles – Prelims
35. Bayli Major – 8.90 – Collegiate Debut
40. Carmela Coulter – 9.15 – Collegiate Debut
44. Nyajah Gordon – 9.38
Men’s 60-Meter Hurdles – Prelims
12. Caughran Fowler – 8.46q – PR
17. William Numnum – 8.80q – Collegiate Debut
Men’s 60-Meter Hurdles – Semifinals
12. William Numnum – 8.66 – PR
17. Caughran Fowler – 8.67
Women’s High Jump
NH Carmela Coulter
Men’s High Jump
1. Arvesta Troupe – 2.23m/7-03.75 – Indoor PR, No. 3 Ole Miss History Indoor
Women’s Pole Vault
5. Lily Beattie – 4.05m/13-03.50
T6. Mary Cate Doughty – 3.90m/12-09.50
11. Katie McFarland – 3.75m/12-03.50
13. Aly Francolini – 3.75m/12-03.50
T14. Rachel Homoly – 3.75m/12-03.50 – Ole Miss Debut, No. 15 Ole Miss History Indoors
NH Katelyn Hulsey
Women’s Long Jump
10. Indya Dotson – 5.73m/18-09.75
25. Nyajah Gordon – 5.19m/17-00.50
FOUL Lizzie Hatton
Women’s Weight Throw
1. Akaoma Odeluga – 22.95m/75-03.50 – 5-foot PR, No. 5 Ole Miss History
2. Skylar Soli – 22.21m/72-10.50 – PR, No. 6 Ole Miss History
4. Nyah Edwards – 20.50m/67-03.25 – Ole Miss Debut, 4-foot PR, No. 9 Ole Miss History
9. Natalie Brown – 18.87m/61-11 – Collegiate Debut, No. 13 Ole Miss History
13. Naomi Woolfolk – 17.90m/58-08.75 – PR, No. 15 Ole Miss History
16. Temidayo Owoyemi – 16.66m/54-8 – Collegiate Debut
Men’s Weight Throw
2. Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan – 23.78m/78-00.25 – Top Collegiate Finisher
3. Bryson Smith – 22.11m/72-05.50 – PR, No. 2 Ole Miss History
4. Mason Hickel – 21.27m/69-09.50
Streit secured her first lifetime best in the weight throw since February of 2025 (Gopher Classic) to finish second on Saturday behind only teammate Anthonett Nabwe (22.82m | 74-10 1/2). Streit, a 2025 weight throw First Team All-American, moved up from No. 5 all-time at Minnesota to No. 4 with the performance and now is No. 3 in the NCAA this season.
On the men’s side it was Godfred who captured the attention of the crowd with his two runs in the 60m. The two-time Big Ten outdoor long jump champion, running unattached, posted lifetime bests of 6.65 and 6.62 to secure the event win in Minneapolis. Godfred’s previous lifetime best in the event was 6.70 (2024 M City Classic) and would rank the Nigerian inside the top three nationally among men’s NCAA sprinters in 2026.
The other seven event wins for the in-uniform Gophers on Saturday included: Victory Godah (60m – 7.58), LauBenra Ben (200m – 25.09), Zeal Kuku (400m – 55.68), Kitania Headley (800m – 2:13.00), Charlotte Lange (3000m – 9:54.82), Sofia Condon (Pole Vault – 4.01m) and Nabwe (Shot Put – 16.11m).
Eight other Minnesota victories on Saturday came from unattached student-athletes. Jordan Dunigan capped the day off with a lifetime best in the weight throw at 20.52m (67-4) while teammates Precious Opinion (Triple Jump – 15.25m), Brooke Moore (Triple Jump – 12.49m) and Waukeem Walters (Long Jump – 7.27m) also picked up wins in field events at the Minnesota Open. On the track Minnesota’s unattached runners won three other events, which included: Joseph Manser (400m – 48.84), Ramy Ayoub (600m – 1:18.37) and Nontokozo Ncube (600m – 1:30.55).
The ‘U’ will head out to Lincoln, Neb., for the Graduate Classic, the first road meet of 2026, from January 16-17. Minnesota will not return home until January 30, at the Jack Johnson Classic.
For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota cross country and track and field team on X.com (Twitter) and Instagram (@GopherCCTF) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the season.
MALIBU, Calif. – The Pepperdine men’s volleyball team (1-0) plays the second match of the weekend in Firestone Fieldhouse against the Daemen Wildcats (0-1) Sunday afternoon.
LAST TIME OUT
•Pepperdine opened the 2026 campaign with a three-set sweep over St. Thomas Aquinas Friday night in Malibu.
• The Waves are coming off an incredible season with the farthest run in the NCAA tournament since 2019, losing to eventual National Champion Long Beach State in the semi-finals.
• Pepperdine finished 4th in the MPSF, making a run in the conference tournament hosted in Malibu, beating higher-seeded USC and UCLA to win the whole thing.
GAME NOTES
• This season marks the 56th and final season with Firestone Fieldhouse as the home for Pepperdine Men’s Volleyball
• Pepperdine will move into the Mountain at Mullin Park for the 2026-27 season.
• The Mountain is a new 3,600-seat arena that will give Pepperdine a state-of-the-art competition venue, complete with a 360-degree high-definition scoreboard, VIP and hospitality spaces, and custom team locker rooms.
• Owning 5 NCAA titles and 18 MPSF titles, with the most recent being earned last year, the Waves are no stranger to what it takes to put together a championship-level team.
• With one of the toughest schedules in the NCAA, Pepperdine is setting the season up for success with a NCAA quarterfinal rematch against Loyola Chicago, a semifinal rematch with Long Beach State and a trip to the islands, taking on No. 2 Hawai’i in March.
• Opening No. 4 in the AVCA preseason poll, the Waves are only behind LBSU, Hawai’i, and conference-foe UCLA.
• Ryan Barnett, James Eadie, Cole Hartke, and Jacob Reilly all return as All-Americans for the Waves.
• Barnett, Hartke, and Reilly all played on some level of the national team this summer.
• Ryan Barnett earned a silver medal with the U23 team at the Pan American Cup while also playing on the senior USA team with Jacob Reilly in the Pan American Cup.
• Cole Hartke earned a bronze in the FIVB World Championship with the U21 team, the farthest the USA has ever gotten in the tournament.
• Redshirting last season, Grant Lamoureux is a player to keep an eye out for on this star-studded roster.
• Named the Junior Male Indoor Athlete of the Year this past year, the redshirt freshman brings plenty of experience regardless of never logging collegiate minutes.
• This summer, Lamoureux was a captain of the U19 World Championship squad with team USA where he led the team in kills nearly every time out.
• Redshirt Ford Harman transferred into Pepperdine from national-champion Long Beach State.
• This summer, Harman earned a Silver medal at the 2025 Men’s Beach Collegiate Challenge for team USA.
• Harman is originally from Santa Barbara, playing at Santa Barbara HS before college.
• Outside of the United States, the Waves represent three other countries in Cuba, Serbia, and Switzerland.
• Andrej Polomac, a transfer from Purdue Fort-Wayne, is the sole Serbian on the squad, brings elite experience as a setter with an average of just under 9 aces per set last season.
• The Waves add even more international experience next year with two of the three commits coming from overseas, bringing another Serbian to Malibu as well as a middle blocker from the Czech Republic.
• In his fourth year at the helm, Winder is coming off his most successful season last year with a run to the final four in the NCAA tournament.
• Last season, Winder led the Waves to an MPSF title, the program’s first since 2019.
• As the ninth coach at the helm, Winder is an alum of the program himself, earning a National Title with Pepperdine in 2005.
SERIES HISTORY WITH DAEMEN
• In two matches against the Wildcats, Pepperdine holds the 2-0 advantage.
• Two seasons ago, in the most recent meeting between the squads, Pepperdine took the 3-0 victory in Firestone Fieldhouse.
• The only other matchup came in 2020 on the road, where the Waves swept them 3-0.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
• Daemen dropped the opening match of the 2026 season against No. 10 UC Irvine 3-1.
• Last season, the Wildcats went 15-13, including 4-4 in conference play.
• The Wildcats are back-to-back Northeast Conference champions, winning their tournament as the three seed last season.
• Daemen has four All-conference players returning in Maverick O’Neill, Billy Wieberg, Kyle Zelasko, and Jariel Giraud
First serve is scheduled for 3 p.m. The game can be streamed on B1G+ (subscription required) with live stats available on pepperdinewaves.com
ABOUT PEPPERDINE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Pepperdine men’s volleyball boasts one of the richest histories in collegiate volleyball, with five NCAA National Championships. Four of those championships came under the direction of Hall of Fame coach Marv Dunphy who totaled 612 victories in 34 seasons at the helm. With 19 NCAA Appearances and 63 All-Americans, the program has consistently been a destination for top talent across the country. Under current head coach Jonathan Winder, the Waves reached the NCAA Final Four in his third season at the helm in 2025.
TICKETS
For more information and to purchase tickets to upcoming home events, visit here.
FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine women’s soccer news, follow the Waves on social media @PepperdineMVB_ .
Logan Muir and Hunter Hopkins both set new career highs in the match. Muir tied his career high of total attempts (46) to record a new high of 28 kills. Hopkins set his career-high mark in assists, totaling 63 of the Mastodons’ 71 kills.
The Miners used their one-game warm up to jump out to an early lead in the first set. The ‘Dons were able to string together a 4-0 run to bring the score back to 7-5. Owen Banner tallied six total points in the first frame, putting away four kills and two aces. Missouri S&T used their .571 hitting percentage to claim the set 25-20.
The second set was highly contested, neither side owning a lead larger than three points. Purdue Fort Wayne managed to outlast the Miners and win 25-23, as the ‘Dons hit .440 in the frame to even the set score.
The Mastodons opened up the third set with a 4-0 run, jumping out to a 7-2 lead. However, Missouri S&T went on their own run taking the lead at 9-8. The ‘Dons held the Miners to a .120 hitting percentage and forced a timeout at 22-18 before eventually winning the set 25-20. Muir carried the offensive load in the set, tallying nine kills.
The fourth set was a roller-coaster of runs between the two teams. Purdue Fort Wayne claimed the first, with a 4-0 run for a 5-3 lead. Missouri S&T took the lead at 10-8 after a 5-1 run and then extended their lead to 16-13 on another 5-1 run. The Mastodons failed the close in on that lead and dropped the fourth set 25-23. Both teams hit over .400 in the frame.
The Miners claimed a lead for the entirety of the fifth set, taking the match after a 15-13 finish.
Hopkins finished with a double-double, recording 11 digs to go along with his career-high assists. Muir added eight digs and three aces with his career-high kill number. Banner finished with 18 kills on a team-high .469 hitting percentage in his first game as a Mastodon.
Purdue Fort Wayne falls to 0-1. Missouri S&T moves to 1-1. The Mastodons will take on (RV) NJIT in the Gates Sports Center on Sunday (Jan. 11) at 5 p.m.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
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