Pepperdine University’s men’s volleyball team marked the end of an era on April 21 with a victory over the University of Southern California (USC) in their final match at Firestone Fieldhouse. The event drew a modern-era attendance record of 2,780 fans and secured Pepperdine’s place as the number two seed in the upcoming Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) tournament.
The significance of this match extended beyond just a win. It represented a season defined by growth, leadership, and community support for the Waves. Head coach Jonathan Winder said, “I’m incredibly proud of this group. Our team strives to be the very best every day, but it’s also great to see the guys really enjoy playing volleyball and having fun.”
Offensive leaders Cole Hartke and Ryan Barnett played key roles in securing the sweep against USC, leading with 13 and 12 kills respectively. Both athletes emphasized that their success was due to collective effort and support from previous teams as well as current teammates. “We’ve talked all season about representing the Pepperdine teams who came before us,” Hartke said. Barnett added, “It has made me a better person, a better volleyball player, and a better man.”
Hartke has become one of collegiate volleyball’s standout players this season, ranking among NCAA leaders in attacks per set, aces per set, and hitting percentage while leading his team in scoring. He credited university support for much of his development: “[Pepperdine] supports us in so many ways—through our coaches, the staff, and leaders like President Gash, who comes to every game,” Hartke said.
Barnett highlighted how faith guides both his play and leadership: “Everything is for Him [God], and everything our team does is to glorify Him,” he said after reflecting on challenges faced throughout the season.
Coach Winder attributed Pepperdine’s continued success to resilience under pressure—a quality he described as “classic” Waves volleyball—and praised broad campus involvement at matches: “It is just such a cool and unique thing to have an amazing community that supports [your program] all the way through.” The Waves will next compete at Provo, Utah from April 22–25 in pursuit of an MPSF title.