The Pepperdine men’s volleyball squad picks up the 5th place ranking to start off the 2017 campaign after ending last season at #7.
The Waves went 13-11 overall and 12-10 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The team went 7-5 at home and 6-6 on the road, picking up an 8-10 record on nationally ranked opponents. Pepperdine picked up a season highlighting match to then top-ranked BYU in four, while sweeping then #3 ranked Stanford towards the end of their season.
Pepperdine opens up their season with a match against McKendree, before hosting Canada’s McMaster on January 5 and 6. McMaster is currently ranked #3 in the Canadian CIS league.
MPSF league play will begin on January 20 with Pepperdine taking on #9 Stanford at home.
Top Returners
David Wieczorek, redshirt sophomore
- Outside Hitter
- 2016 season awards
- All-MPSF second team, MPSF All-Freshman Team, MPSF All-Academic, Off the Block/Springbak, Inc. Fan Choice National Player of the Year
- Started in all 24 matches last season
- Recorded 259 kills on a .344 hitting percentage
Colby Harriman
- Outside Hitter
- Posted 219 kills on the season
- Recorded 0.69 blocks per set
Newcomers
Alex Harthaller, junior
- Outside Hitter
- Transfer from Indiana University
- Led Indiana with 326 kills and 40 aces on the season
- Finished in the top-10 for most kills and aces in the MIVA
Owen Yoshimoto, redshirt junior
- Outside Hitter
- Transfer from Santa Barbara CC/Moorpark College
- While with Santa Barbara CC he recorded 2.26 kills per set
Noah Dyer, freshman
- Outside Hitter, Opposite, Setter
- Named All-Orange County First Team (two times), San Joaquin League Male Athlete of the Year
Robert Mullahey, freshman
- Setter
- Earned All-Bay League first Team, Daily Breeze First Team
- Played on the Karch Kiraly Tournament of Champions All-Tournament Team
Sam Bradley, freshman
- Middle Blocker
- Finished his senior season with the most blocks in the state (Hawaii)
- Helped his high school to three consecutive state titles
Kyle Suppes, senior
- Middle Blocker
- Has not seen any action on the court since 2013 season
- Did not play in 2014 and 2015 and was not a member of the squad in 2016
Who they lost
Matt Tarantino, redshirt senior
- 2016 season awards
- AVCA All-America second team, All-MPSF First Team
- Put down a team-best 349 kills on a .309 hitting percentage
- Posted 0.81 blocks per set
Tommy Carmody, senior
- 2016 season awards
- AVCA All-America honorable mention, All-MPSF Second Team, Off The Block/Springbak, Inc. National Blocker of the Year
- Ranked second in the nation with 1.45 blocks per set
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