No. 6 USC Trojans Host No. 4 Pepperdine Waves in MPSF Finale

Regular season conference title on the line as top teams meet in home-and-home series

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:11am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the action and energy of a volleyball match between two competing teams, with sharp geometric shapes and planes of cardinal red, gold, and royal blue colors.The final regular season clash between two top-ranked MPSF volleyball rivals will determine conference supremacy and playoff seeding.Los Angeles Today

The final standings for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) will be determined during the final week of regular-season play as the No. 6 USC Trojans face the No. 4 Pepperdine Waves in a home-and-home series. The two teams are scheduled to meet on April 16 at the Galen Center in Los Angeles and again on April 18 at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu.

Why it matters

This late-season matchup between two top-10 teams will have major implications on the final MPSF standings and seeding for the upcoming conference tournament. Historically, Pepperdine has dominated the series, but USC is looking to turn the tide on its home court.

The details

USC enters the series with a 17-4 overall record and 9-3 mark in MPSF play, while Pepperdine holds a 20-5 overall record and 11-1 conference record. The Waves have won the last two meetings between the teams, continuing their historical dominance in the series that has seen Pepperdine hold a 45-79 advantage over USC.

  • The first match will be played on April 16, 2026 at 7 p.m. PT at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.
  • The second match is scheduled for April 18, 2026 at 6 p.m. PT at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu.

The players

USC Trojans

The No. 6 ranked NCAA Division I men's volleyball team, led by head coach Jeff Nygaard in his 11th season.

Pepperdine Waves

The No. 4 ranked NCAA Division I men's volleyball team, playing in their final regular season match at Firestone Fieldhouse before moving to a new on-campus facility in 2027.

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What’s next

The winner of this home-and-home series will likely clinch the MPSF regular season title and earn the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament.

The takeaway

This pivotal late-season clash between two of the top men's volleyball programs in the country will determine conference supremacy and set the stage for the postseason. Fans can expect an intense, high-level matchup as these historic rivals battle for MPSF bragging rights.