Pepperdine Falls in Five to UCLA

Pepperdine had the edge in just about everything.

Blocks, digs, hitting percentage and a noisy homecourt advantage.

The Waves were lacking one important stat Thursday night against UCLA--a victory.

Relying on two key backups, UCLA defeated Pepperdine, 15-13, 13-15, 4-15, 17-16, 15-12 in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation men’s volleyball match that lasted 3 hours, 15 minutes at Firestone Fieldhouse.

Reserve middle blocker Danny Farmer, a wide receiver on the football team, pounded down two late kills for the Bruins, including the match-winner that glanced off the Waves’ double block in the middle.

“For January, this is about the best college match I’ve ever seen,” said 36-year UCLA Coach Al Scates.

Pepperdine’s George Roumain delivered 15 of his 41 kills in the second game as the Waves tied the match at 1-1.

In the third game, the Waves (3-1, 2-1) outblocked the Bruins, 6-0, and began somewhat of a precedent--Pepperdine outblocked UCLA for the match, 23-11.

After fighting back three game points in the fourth, the Waves had a chance to put away the match on Roumain’s serve, which went long. UCLA (6-0, 3-0) scored immediately on Evan Thatcher’s kill and the match went to a fifth game.