Behind dominant serving, towering blocks, and balanced offense, Pepperdine men’s volleyball rolled past Daemen 3–0 for its second straight sweep
The Pepperdine Waves men’s volleyball team had a one-point lead over the Daemen University Wildcats when 6-foot-10 outside hitter Grant Lamoureux stepped up to serve in the second set of their match at Pepperdine’s Firestone Fieldhouse on Jan. 11 — their advantage was about to increase in a big way.
First, there was a block assist by the Waves’ 6-foot-5 outside hitter Ryan Barnett, and then a block assist by 6-foot-7 middle blocker James Eadie. Barnett, a redshirt senior, registered a kill right before the towering Lamoureux, a redshirt freshman, smacked two consecutive service aces.
Yes, Pepperdine was rolling.
Lamoureux then committed a service error, but 6-foot-11 outside hitter Cole Hartke, a sophomore, quickly answered Daemen’s serve with another kill, giving Pepperdine a 23-17 lead. The Waves won the set 25-17 after the Wildcats committed two straight attack errors. Pepperdine controlled the entire match as they defeated Daemen 3-0.
It was Pepperdine’s second sweep in two days. They began the season with a 3-0 home win over St. Thomas Aquinas College on Jan. 9.
Waves head coach Jonathan Winder said the victories over the two New York teams — both conference champions in 2025 — were good measuring sticks for how well Pepperdine was ready for their 2026 campaign.
“It was nice to see the level of play for our team,” Winder said. “Our serving and blocking were pretty strong in both matches. That’s a good sign for us because it is something we think we can be good at this year.”
Hartke, 19, was satisfied with the wins, but said the Waves still need to strive to get better.
“We are trying to learn and come out to do the best we can,” he said.
Hartke and Barnett led Pepperdine with nine kills each in the victory over Daemen, while Lamoureux added seven. Barnett and Lamoureux also each had three aces. Six-foot-six junior setter Andrej Polomac totaled 24 assists and eight digs for the Waves. Six-foot-seven freshman middle blocker Noe Matthey and Eadie had five blocks apiece, Hartke had four, and Lamoureux and Barnett had three.
After Pepperdine had a 3-0 lead in the first set, Daemen battled back. The squads traded points before the Wildcats committed three straight errors. Matthey and Polomac then had back-to-back kills, giving Pepperdine an 11-6 lead, which the Waves increased to 17-9 when Hartke smacked a kill. Pepperdine — powered by Eadie, Lamoureux, Polomac, and Matthey — maintained at least a five-point advantage before Barnett’s service ace gave them a 25-17 win.
The Wildcats had a 7-3 lead over the Waves in the second set before Pepperdine trimmed the margin and tied the game 10-10. The teams scored back-and-forth until a service error by Daemen’s Patrick Mullen gave Pepperdine a 17-16 lead. Lamoureux then stepped up to serve and sparked an 8-1 scoring run to close the set.
The Waves jumped to an early lead in the final set and never trailed. The score was knotted 8-8 when Pepperdine scored five unanswered points, which began with a kill by Barnett and ended with a service ace by Barnett.
Pepperdine later rattled off another five-point run, capped by a service ace from Matthey, and never let Daemen back into contention. Barnett hit a kill, giving the Waves set point. He then served up a service ace, cementing Pepperdine’s 25-14 victory.
Winder noted how well his team played defensively in the match — especially compared to last season. He said Pepperdine traditionally excels offensively but explained that standout serving and blocking will be key against the talented squads they will face this year.
Pepperdine’s 22-man roster features only three players listed under 6-foot-4, so the coach expects the Waves’ size and athleticism to be a huge advantage and for them to play smart volleyball.
“Against the top teams, we have to be big and physical, as well as be good at executing all the small details,” Winder said.
Hartke also noted his team’s positives, while admitting there is room for improvement.
“There’s nothing we can’t improve on,” he said. “A big thing about volleyball is playing to your strengths. You can’t be great at everything, but you can be great at the things at which you are great.”
Pepperdine finished last season with a 21-10 record en route to winning the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament and advancing to the semifinals of the NCAA Championships.
Their 28-game schedule this season features matches against opponents who had impressive campaigns a season ago.
Pepperdine, who finished last season ranked fifth in NCAA rankings, plays 13 road games this season and takes on 19 of last season’s top 20 teams in the country.
After hosting UC Irvine on Friday at 6 p.m., Pepperdine travels to Chicago to face Loyola Chicago, who Pepperdine beat in the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament last season, on Jan. 23. The Waves play at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill. the following day — six days before hosting reigning national champions Long Beach State on Jan. 30. (Long Beach ended Pepperdine’s season last May.)
Pepperdine’s campaign also includes games against BYU, Hawai’i, Stanford, UCLA, and USC.
Winder would have the Waves’ slate no other way.
“We have a team we think can be pretty good,” he explained. “If you want to be the best at the end of the season, you have to push yourselves during the season. We are going to have to win on the road against some of the best teams in the country.”
“It’s going to be relentless,” Winder added.
Hartke said Pepperdine’s practices are as competitive as any match they will play this season.
“Practices are very tough with a lot of competing going on,” he added. “It gets pretty chippy.”
Hartke expects Pepperdine to be national championship contenders at the end of their tough schedule.
“That is the goal,” he said. “That is the standard for Pepperdine men’s volleyball. That is what we come here to do. We have a group that can do it.”