国產aⅴa麻豆

For 国產aⅴa麻豆University鈥檚 men鈥檚 volleyball team, Saturday night was about more than a final match inside Firestone Fieldhouse鈥攊t was the culmination of a season defined by growth, leadership, and purpose.

With a modern-era attendance record of 2,780 fans filling the stands, 国產aⅴa麻豆delivered a historic victory over the University of Southern California (USC), cementing its place among the nation鈥檚 top teams and entering the postseason as the number 2 seed in the 2026 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) tournament.  

Men's volleyball win against USC

"I'm incredibly proud of this group," said Jonathan Winder (鈥�08), head coach of the 国產aⅴa麻豆men鈥檚 volleyball team. "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."

Anchors of Offense 

Opposite hitter Cole Hartke and outside hitter Ryan Barnett served as the team鈥檚 offensive leaders, setting the tone from the start. Hartke and Barnett led the team in kills鈥擧artke accumulating 13 and Barnett 12鈥攃onsistently delivering in key moments and providing the steady scoring presence that kept USC from gaining momentum. To Hartke and Barnett, however, success is less an individual accomplishment and more a reflection of the team鈥檚 collective talent, the support of the Pepperdine community, and the legacy established by the Waves who preceded them.

鈥淲e鈥檝e talked all season about representing the 国產aⅴa麻豆teams who came before us,鈥� Hartke said. 鈥淭he legacy they created is incredible, and the reason we鈥檙e able to be here right now is because of them. We鈥檙e just trying to honor what they built for us.鈥�

鈥淚t means everything鈥攚hat this program has done for me,鈥� Barnett added. 鈥淚t has made me a better person, a better volleyball player, and a better man. I鈥檝e poured my heart and soul into this program, and it gives us these great moments in return.鈥�

A Rising Star

A year ago, Hartke鈥檚 journey in collegiate volleyball was just beginning. Now, as one of the nation鈥檚 premier players and a top contender for National Player of the Year honors, the sophomore has emerged as one of the defining figures of Pepperdine men鈥檚 volleyball. Ranked in the NCAA's top 20 for attacks per set (number 9), aces per set (number 12), and hitting percentage (number 16), Hartke is an unstoppable force, leading the Waves in scoring with 470.5 points and 385 kills.

Cole Hartke

Embracing the moment, Hartke was determined to secure a victory to honor Firestone's enduring legacy. He also saw it as an opportunity to recognize the wider Pepperdine community, which he believes has been instrumental in fueling the team's success this season.

Hartke pointed to the University as a driving force behind the Waves鈥� consistency and growth: 鈥淸Pepperdine] supports us in so many ways鈥攖hrough our coaches, the staff, and leaders like President Gash, who comes to every game,鈥� Hartke said. To Hartke, that support is just as vital as anything that happens on the court; it elevates both his development and the team鈥檚 achievements. 鈥淚 love being a Wave,鈥� he says. It鈥檚 amazing.鈥�

Despite his achievements, Hartke remains grounded in the mindset of an athlete who knows there is still more ahead. Saying there are 鈥渢oo many ways to name鈥� when asked how he plans to continue to improve his game, Hartke revealed that even as his profile continues to rise, his focus remains fixed on growth.

Leading with Faith

Hartke is not the only Wave drawing national attention. Alongside him, senior Ryan Barnett has emerged as a powerful example of leadership founded in humility, faith, and resilience. Following the emotionally charged match, Barnett described feeling both 鈥渉appy鈥� and 鈥渆xhausted,鈥� but above all, 鈥減roud of everyone and this organization.鈥�

Ryan Barnett

Barnett鈥檚 leadership is perhaps most evident in the way he speaks about the team鈥檚 season. He does not ignore the challenges, but instead views them as essential chapters in the team鈥檚 story. The Waves have 鈥渂een through it all,鈥� he said, and believes that shared adversity has built endurance and trust amongst the team. He credits his own growth from season to season not to personal heroics, but to teammates who perform their roles so well that they lift up everyone around them. 

Barnett defines his purpose as glorifying the Lord through both his life and his platform as an elite athlete. 鈥淗e鈥檚 gifted me with amazing skills in volleyball and [has also blessed me with the health to continue competing],鈥� Barnett said. For him, his talent, health, and even the team鈥檚 biggest moments are gifts entrusted to him by God. 鈥淓verything is for Him, and everything our team does is to glorify Him. We surrender the outcome, knowing He knows the plan, and we鈥檙e just along for the ride.鈥�

An Elite Culture

Head coach Winder views the Waves鈥� success as the natural result of a group that loves the game and refuses to waiver in pressure-filled moments. Reflecting on the latest win, he noted how his team 鈥渒ept hanging in there鈥� and 鈥減laying well鈥� through a tight second set before making key plays that secured their triumph. For Winder, that resilience and composure under pressure is 鈥渃lassic鈥� 国產aⅴa麻豆volleyball鈥攁 reflection of who the Waves are and what they have steadily built over time.

Crowd celebrating Waves' win

As an alumnus who competed in Firestone Fieldhouse, Winder was especially moved by the community鈥檚 support. He spoke with pride about seeing students, University leadership, professors, faculty, and staff all present and fully engaged. According to Winder, it is 鈥渏ust such a cool and unique thing to have an amazing community that supports [your program] all the way through.鈥� That broad support signifies how deeply woven the men鈥檚 volleyball team is within campus life and how it inspires the players in times when the pressure is greatest. 

According to Winder, a team's character is demonstrated by playing its best when the stakes are highest, continuing to improve against top opponents, and embracing the pressure that accompanies expectations.

"There's a little phrase: be at your best when your best is needed. And I think our guys have really done that at the end of the season and just continue to get better as we play against quality competition," said Winder.

The Waves will head to Provo, Utah, for the MPSF tournament held from April 22 to 25, with Pepperdine's first game slated for Wednesday, April 22 against the number 7 seed team Jessup University. For more information, visit the .