Malibu, Calif. — No. 2 BYU Cougars defeat the No. 4 Pepperdine Waves 4-1 (25-20, 25-17, 25- 21, 25-17) in Firestone Fieldhouse today. This is the first time since 2018 an MPSF opponent has beaten the Waves on their home court. BYU has now tied the all time series record 36-36.
“I’m proud of how this team responded after the first set. Said head coach Shawn Olmstead. “They stayed in the match and worked to improve a few things we asked of them.”
On today’s impact players Olmstead said, “Davide was huge for us all night. Receiving serves, attacking, and serving the ball, he carried a pod for us. Felipe felt strong and played great. Wil made great decisions all night to lead the team.”
KEY PLAYERS
- Davide Gardini: 18 kills, .556 hitting percentage, three aces
- Gabi Garcia Fernandez: 15 kills, four aces, four blocks
- Felipe de Brito Ferriera: 8 kills, .889 hitting percentage, two blocks
- Wil Stanley: 41 assists, one ace, seven digs, two blocks
SET ONE
An early ace by Pepperdine (BYU 1-2 PEPP) set the tone for set one. Next, an 8-2 run by the Waves would prove they were in control. Pepperdine would get another ace (BYU 7-13 PEPP) to continue their momentum and hold the lead for the remainder of the set. The Waves hit an impressive .424, with two aces and three blocks.
SET TWO
The Cougars bounced back in set two. Early on, a strategic challenge called by Shawn Olmstead overturned a point giving BYU a 6-3 lead. At (BYU 10-5 PEPP,) the Cougar’s front row blocked the ball straight down for the second of five and a half blocks this set. Zach Eschenberg served an ace (BYU 15-9 PEPP) and the set headed into a media timeout. In total BYU would hit . 562 this set, the highest of the match, with five team blocks and an ace. Set two would conclude 25-17, BYU winning on a Pepperdine service error.
SET THREE
The Cougars showed off strong serving in set three with four aces. BYU began with a 6-1 run, forcing a Pepperdine time out after a Garcia Fernandez ace. Eschenberg brought it from the service line with an ace (BYU 8-3 PEPP) followed by two more strong serves. At (BYU 16-8 PEPP) Gardini’s ace, followed by an Eschenberg kill, would force a Waves timeout. The Cougars would go on to win the set 25-21 by a Garcia Fernandez ace.
SET FOUR
BYU would once again show out from the service line with Garcia Fernandez opening with an ace and a kill (BYU 3-1 PEPP). The Cougars quickly turned on the offense to wrap up the match. BYU would hit .450, with four service aces and three blocks. A kill by Garcia Fernandez finalized the set 25-17 and ended the match 3-1.
The Cougars and Waves will rematch tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. PDT in Firestone Fieldhouse.