Pepperdine Waves Set for Grueling Schedule at Hawai’i’s Queen’s Cup

HONOLULU, HI – The Pepperdine Waves beach volleyball team (2-6) will face a challenging three-day stretch at the Heineken Queen’s Cup, hosted by the University of Hawai’i, beginning Thursday, March 5th, at Queen’s Beach in Waikiki. The tournament features a competitive field including Chaminade, Concordia Irvine, No. 12 Hawai’i, Pepperdine, Saint Mary’s, San Jose State and UNC Wilmington.

Tournament Schedule

The Waves will compete in six dual matches over the course of the tournament. Here’s a breakdown of their schedule (all times are Pacific Standard Time):

• Thursday, March 5:
• 10:30 a.m. – vs. UNC Wilmington
• 3:30 p.m. – vs. San Jose State
• Friday, March 6:
• 10:30 a.m. – vs. Concordia Irvine
• 3:30 p.m. – vs. Saint Mary’s
• Saturday, March 7:
• 11:45 a.m. – at No. 12 Hawai’i
• 3:30 p.m. – vs. Chaminade

Live stats for each match will be available, but the games will not be streamed. Pepperdine Waves Official Website

Waves Look to Rebound After Tough Competition in Los Angeles

Pepperdine comes into the Queen’s Cup after a mixed showing at the Battle 4 L.A. The Waves secured a sweep against CSUN, but then faced tough competition, falling to USC, Long Beach State, and UCLA – all ranked in the top 15 nationally.

Emma Eden and Michaela Cyrani, Gabbie Perez and Maddy Snow, Emi Erickson and Ginevra Merlini, and Deanie Woodruff and Emma Bubelis each secured wins on their respective courts against CSUN. First-year players Sonia Mancuso and Alice Jagielska as well contributed a victory against San Fernando and managed to win a point against UCLA.

Historical Matchups

Pepperdine has a history with several of the teams they will face at the Queen’s Cup:

• UNC Wilmington: The Waves won their only previous matchup against the Seahawks a decade ago in a sweep.
• San Jose State: Pepperdine defeated San Jose State 4-1 in 2022 in their only meeting.
• Concordia Irvine: The Waves hold an 8-2 advantage over Concordia Irvine in ten previous matchups, with two more scheduled later this season.
• Hawai’i: Hawai’i leads the series 5-12, but Pepperdine has won the last two matchups by sweep.
• Chaminade: Pepperdine swept Chaminade in their first meeting in 2024.

Looking Ahead

Following the Queen’s Cup, Pepperdine will return home to host the Malibu Invite on March 13th and 14th, where they will face Cal State Bakersfield and Hope International twice each. Pepperdine Waves Official Website

Head coach Marcio Sicoli emphasized the significance of returning to Hawai’i, noting the program’s strong ties to the islands and the many Waves players who have come from the state. Pepperdine Waves Official Website

Fans can follow Pepperdine beach volleyball on social media @PepperdineBVB for updates throughout the tournament. Pepperdine Waves Official Website