PeppGraphic

11/03/2024

Pepperdine Women's Soccer is still in the hunt.

Women's Soccer squared off against Oregon State University on Oct. 26, at Paul Lorenz Field. Heading into the match, the Waves were 10-2-4 overall and 4-0-2 in conference play, finding themselves in a three-way tie for first place in the West Coast Conference.

Alongside Pepperdine in first was Oregon State and Santa Clara University, all teams in the fight for the WCC Championship. The Waves and the Beavers' battle ended in a 1-1 draw, but this didn't take Pepperdine out of contention for the championships.

Pepperdine Women's Soccer's season is winding down. As the Waves sit at a three-way tie for first in the West Coast Conference, they look to stay in contention for the WCC Championship.

11/02/2024

The sound of joy has been in the air throughout Pepperdine's campus since the release of WAVES WORSHIP's first single "Let it Fall." The group has been showing their love for the Lord through writing music, and now everyone can enjoy the songs.

WAVES WORSHIP and the songs they produce would not be the same without Nathan Lee and Anna Spivey, who have given so much to the group, said Lily Salanty, Associate Director of Worship.

WAVES WORSHIP organically started meeting up in the fall of 2023 in the HUB for Spiritual Life, and are just now peeking their heads above the ground with their first released song, Salanty said. Now that "Let it Fall" is out for the world to listen to, the group will continue to record and release music that students and staff have created, including Lee and Spivey, Salanty said.

"We just have a passion for finding what God is saying over Pepperdine, and what's Pepperdine singing back to him," Salanty said. "It's just so cool to see Nathan and Anna pouring down into this."

A new group of worship music song writers is on campus. WAVES WORSHIP released an original song Oct. 15. The group would not be what it is without the student musicians, including Nathan Lee and Anna Spivey.

11/02/2024

Pepperdine Cross Country officially wrapped up their season — for only two weeks, and then it's time for postseason racing.

The Waves finished their final race Oct. 19 at the Highlander Invitational held by University of California, Riverside. Putting a stamp on the regular season, Pepperdine is looking to storm into the postseason recording 13 new personal-best times across both the Men's and Women's Cross Country teams.

In a race that housed 20 teams in the men's 8k race and 24 teams in the women's 6k race, Pepperdine's batch of personal bests placed both squads in the top 10.

Coming in at seventh, the men's team had five runners finish 100th or better in a competition that held 253 runners. The last member of the team crossed the line at 214th, good for a team score of 163, with a team total time of 2:06:06 and a runner time average of 25:13, according to TFRRS.

Pepperdine Cross Country entered the Highlander Invite with one last race to prepare for the postseason, but left with a cluster of personal bests. With just the postseason remaining, the Waves look ready to race.

11/01/2024

No. 7 Pepperdine Men's Water Polo took a trip to face rival No. 17 Loyola Marymount University on Oct. 25 at Burns Aquatic Center.

Fifth year attacker Christian Hosea opened the scoring for the Waves early in the first quarter, but LMU responded with a goal of their own within two minutes.

Freshman utility Charles Wilmington put the Waves ahead soon after to take a 2-1 lead, but LMU was able to score once again and end the first quarter 2-2.

Pepperdine came out strong in the second quarter, scoring four unanswered goals, including two more for Hosea, completing a first-half hat-trick.

Pepperdine Men's Water Polo is approaching the end of their season and has entered conference play. The Waves took a win in their first conference game of the season in a close match against Loyola Marymount University.

11/01/2024

We are officially halfway through the 2024 NFL season. The Minnesota Vikings are fumbling and the Kansas City Chiefs remain unbeaten after nine weeks of play.

The once undefeated squad is on a two-game loss streak following a 20-30 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. This game saw the return of wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, two stars the Rams desperately missed, and their record reflected it.

Both stars made immediate impacts upon their return, as Kupp caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Matthew Stafford, Nacua rushed for 106 yards and Stafford passed for 279 yards with four touchdowns, according to the NFL.

We are officially at the halfway point! With nine weeks down, only nine weeks remain, and there are some expected first-place teams at this point in the season.

10/31/2024

The Pepperdine community gathered Oct. 17 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the PCH crash that took the lives of four beloved students: Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir and Deslyn Williams — affectionately remembered as "Our Girls."

The Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic organized a flower memorial at Lower Adamson Plaza, where students, faculty and staff could pause their day and pay respects to the women.

Attendees wrote heartfelt notes, attached them to flowers and placed the bouquets at the women's memorial, creating a space for reflection and connection.

“Pepperdine has really made an effort to bring us all together in remembrance for the way that these girls impacted all of us,” Charlie Robinson, senior Alpha Phi member, said.

Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic hosted a flower memorial on Lower Adamson Plaza on Oct. 17 to honor and remember the lives of "Our Girls." It has now been a year since the PCH crash that killed four Pepperdine students, Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir and Deslyn Williams.

10/31/2024

Pepperdine University hosted the Emily Shane Foundation's fall fundraiser: Wings and Waves of Achievement, on Oct. 20 at Alumni Park.

The Emily Shane Foundation was founded by Michel and Ellen Shane in honor of their daughter Emily, whose life was taken in 2010 in a crash on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH).

“When we created this foundation it was in honor of our daughter Emily, who was murdered here in Malibu in 2010,” Ellen Shane said. “She was one of those kids who struggled in academics, and yet didn’t have a diagnosed challenge so she fell in what I call a gray area. There was nothing for her in the school system.”

The Emily Shane Foundation hosted its annual fall fundraiser: Wings and Waves of Achievement on Oct. 20 at Alumni Park. The Emily Shane Foundation focuses on helping underserved children as well as raising awareness about the dangers of PCH.

10/30/2024

Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier for Major League Baseball in 1947. His actions were enshrined in baseball immortality, when every MLB retired his number, 42, and the MLB established Jackie Robinson Day each April 15, according to the MLB. Before Robinson broke the color barrier, though, he was one of many players in the Negro Leagues.⁠
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After over half a century, MLB decided to acknowledge and remember these players and teams.⁠
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The MLB has integrated statistics from the Negro Leagues into the Major League Record Book, the MLB announced May 29. As a result, the all-time leaderboards for the MLB changed and more people are starting to learn the story of Black baseball.⁠
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“It is anchored against the ugliness of American segregation, a horrible chapter in this country's history,” said Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo. “But the story here is what emerged out of segregation. This wonderful story of triumph and conquest, and it's all based on one small, simple principle: you won't let me play with you in the Major Leagues, then I'll create a league of my own.”⁠

Major League Baseball awarded seven Negro Leagues from 1920-1948 Major League status, meaning their stats have been added to the all-time record book, MLB announced May 29. Historians of the Negro League said now, more than ever, is a good time to learn and understand the names and stories of the Ne...

10/30/2024

10/30/2024

In recent years, more and more professional athletes have begun to speak out about their battles with mental health. Some of the greatest in their respective sports, like Michael Phelps and Simone Biles, have used their platforms to advocate for mental health awareness.⁠
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The vulnerability professional athletes have shared has helped create a more open environment for discussing mental health. These testimonies opened the door for these conversations to be had at every level of athletics.⁠
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“I think it's been helpful to be able to normalize and destigmatize mental health and some of the problems that some of those athletes are enduring,” Athletics Counselor Dr. Jorge Ballesteros said.⁠

The Women's Indoor Volleyball team places a special emphasis on their athletes' mental health. Through one-on-one check-ins to team bonding events, the Waves make sure to have each other's backs.

10/30/2024

Champions. Record breakers. Friends. The Pepperdine Women’s Swim and Dive team has many titles, but for them, the most important one is family.

For Swim and Dive, success comes in the form of togetherness — something the team has seen an abundance of in the last four years. In 2022, the team won their first-ever conference title, followed by a second title in 2023, according to Pepperdine Athletics.

“That was never a set goal of mine in my first year, year-and-a-half to win championships,” Head Coach Ellie Monobe said. “My goal was to bring the team together, and then from there, things just fell into place.”

The Pepperdine Swim and Dive team has seen great success in the last four years, according to Pepperdine Athletics. Head Coach Monobe and senior freestyler and breaststroker Alexandra Browne said emphasizing family and togetherness is essential for the team.

10/30/2024

: Women’s Tennis Head Coach Per Nilsson announced Tuesday he is stepping down from his coaching position, according to Pepperdine Athletics.⁠
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Nilsson will now be the Women’s Tennis Head Coach at the University of Florida. ⁠
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Nilsson, who began his 11th season for the Waves this year, will exit Pepperdine with an impressive 221-48 dual-match record, 10-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, three ITA Southwest Regional Coach of the Year honors (’17-’19) and six WCC Coach of the Year nods (’15-’18, ’21, ’24). ⁠
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During his tenure, the Waves won almost every WCC title, including eight regular-season titles and eight tournament championships. ⁠
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"It has been a dream to work at Pepperdine," Nilsson said. "Leaving this incredible place is nothing short of bittersweet. Words cannot express the gratitude and appreciation I have for this school, the program and, most importantly, the incredible individuals I have had the privilege to work with."⁠
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Adam Schaechterle, Men’s Tennis Head Coach, will serve as the interim head coach.

10/30/2024

Nico Iamaleava introduced the world to the growing scene of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) when he committed to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2022. The Volunteers offered Iamaleava $8 million through Spyre Sports Group, a Tennessee collective. This made him one of the first athletes to sign one of the largest NIL deals in the early stages of the NIL era, according to The Sporting News.

NIL is the right for college athletes to be compensated for their personhood and talent when they are used for commercial purposes. Prior to the passing of the new NIL policy in July 2021, college athletes were strictly prohibited from profiting from themselves. All monetary compensations were directed to the NCAA, leaving players with virtually nothing.

“It's a different world,” said Alicia Jessop, associate professor of Sport Administration. “Why can't this group of people — when everyone else in America can benefit from this right, why not them?"

NIL, short for Name, Image, Likeness, shook the world when the NCAA passed a policy in July 2021 allowing college athletes to profit off themselves. Since then, athletes, coaches and lawyers have had to navigate this new world of profit.

10/29/2024

Changing the rules of a sport ultimately changes the results of the game, match or race. Changing the rules of the NCAA Transfer Portal ultimately changes collegiate athletics.

On April 18, the NCAA Division I Council unanimously adopted a new package of rules, forever changing the way student-athletes transfer from one school to another, according to the NCAA. The rule changes include a shortened time period to enter the portal, no limit to the amount of times an athlete can transfer and the ability to compete immediately after transferring, according to ESPN.

The rule changes come with pros and cons, but Amanda Kurtz, Pepperdine’s senior associate director of Athletics for Internal Operations, said she believes it has come with more good than bad for Pepperdine Athletics.

The NCAA made numerous changes to the transfer portal process this past spring. Coaches, athletes and academic advisers were placed in a situation where no one had been before. This uncharted territory led to benefits and fallbacks for student-athletes and staff at Pepperdine University.

10/29/2024

You only have 20 seconds. What could you do in those 20 seconds? Watch a TikTok? Send a text? Perhaps, tie your shoes? Some people can solve a Rubix Cube in this timeframe. But, what is most surprising is how collegiate and professional pitchers have 20 seconds, or less, to perform at their highest caliber, over and over and over again – and some pitchers do this every five days.

In 2022, Major League Baseball announced to its fans three changes for the 2023 season. Within these three rules lays the pitch clock, which requires pitchers to start their wind up before it expires, batters to be ready to hit at eight seconds and limits pick off attempts in order to quicken pace of play, according to the MLB.

“The benefit of it has not really saved the game, but helped save the game from people losing interest in it,” said Ned Colletti, Professor of Sport Administration and former general manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers (‘05-‘14). “I don't think it was the time of the game that people started to look at, it was the pace of the game., Especially in this era as life goes on, things get faster, life gets faster."

Just as with everything in life, America's favorite pastime is changing before our eyes. From new rules to playoff formats, the sport is ever-changing, and many sources said this is what makes the game unique.

10/28/2024

Firestone Fieldhouse has been the home arena for the Waves since it opened Nov. 30, 1972, with a Men’s Basketball game against UNLV. Though, after over 50 years, its time as the only arena is coming to an end as the new arena is under development.

The Mountain at Mullin Park will contain a new athletic arena that members of Pepperdine Athletics said will not only allow athletes to maximize their potential, but will serve the Pepperdine community as a whole.

“My vision for The Mountain is a place where people come together, to enjoy community, to celebrate, to cheer on the Waves, to win a lot of games,” Athletics Director Tanner Gardner said. “And to do it together, in a way that elevates the brand of Pepperdine Athletics, elevates the brand of Pepperdine University and glorifies God.”

After over 50 years of calling Firestone Fieldhouse home, Pepperdine is getting a new and upgraded athletics arena. Multiple coaches said the Mountain will gave athletes more space to practice and enhance their recruiting and retention abilities.

10/28/2024

As a religious follower of baseball, there was one man who I never wanted to see making headlines — MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. My issue with Manfred was how it seemed like every year, he wanted to change something about the game I loved.

Since becoming commissioner in 2015, Manfred has implemented a handful of rule changes, added a lottery system to the draft, expanded from 10 to 12 playoff teams and changed the Wild Card game to a three-game Wild Card series, according to Baseball Almanac.

During the first few years of Manfred’s tenure, I was annoyed with the constant rule changes as all I wanted to do was “keep baseball the way it is.”

Change in sports is constant. Special Edition Editor Tony Gleason shares why sports fans must embrace change in their favorite sports.

10/28/2024

Announcing our Fall 2024 special edition on Change in Sports!! ⚽️🏌️⚾️⁠
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Look inside for stories on the mountain renovation, NCAA transfers, mental health awareness for athletes, and more!⁠
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On stands all over campus and online at the link below.
https://pepperdine-graphic.com/special-edition-change-in-sports/

10/28/2024

Being midway through the semester with a stacked workload, extracurricular activities and other commitments makes it difficult to study and prepare for midterm season. Students said the company of friends has been pivotal in making midterms less stressful.

Junior Shea Dauphinée said it is nice to study in Payson Library with her sorority sisters because she can relax with them while studying.

“It’s nice to find people in the library, especially since they are both a part of my sorority,” Dauphinée said.

Midterm season sparks many emotions for students during the academic year. However, friendships have been able to help through midterm season by providing a safe space.

10/27/2024

One team stands alone with a flawless 6-0 record, the reigning Super Bowl champs: the Kansas City Chiefs. Following a tough, hard-fought, last minute loss to the Detroit Lions, the Minnesota Vikings tumbled off the mountaintop.⁠
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Read on for the Graphic staff's predictions for this weekend!⁠
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One team stands alone with a flawless 6-0 record, the reigning Super Bowl champs: the Kansas City Chiefs. Following a tough, hard-fought, last minute loss to the Detroit Lions, the Minnesota Vikings tumbled off the mountaintop.

10/25/2024

No. 7 Pepperdine Men’s Water Polo faced No. 11 Princeton University in their final non-conference home matchup of the season Oct. 15 at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool.

The Waves entered the match with a 14-4 season record, looking for a bounce back opportunity following their loss against No. 2 University of California, Los Angeles on Oct. 12.

The Princeton Tigers entered the matchup with a 14-6 record.

The Waves had a tough fight against the Tigers and saw a last-minute rally to potentially tie the game up, but ultimately fell short. The slow start the Waves saw, particularly in the second quarter, made this one a tough matchup.

"One thing I'm not satisfied with is the slow start and a slow first half," Head Coach Merrill Moses said. "We got to clean up some things defensively and play four quarters if we're going to win a conference championship at the end of the year."

Men's Water Polo hosted the Princeton Tigers in a top-15 matchup to close out home conference play. In a relatively low scoring match for the Waves, Pepperdine found themselves fighting from behind.

10/25/2024

Celebrating our sports special edition!! 🎉⚾️🏅⁠
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This Tuesday at 5 pm, join the PGM staff to watch Game 4 of the World Series on the CCB lawn. Can't wait to see you there!

10/24/2024

Conference play has been no issue for Pepperdine Women’s Volleyball.⁠
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Women’s Volleyball hosted the Saint Mary’s College of California Gaels on Oct. 17, at Firestone Fieldhouse, for their sixth conference match of the season. The Waves entered the match with an overall record of 7-8 and conference record of 4-1.⁠
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It was just their second home match of conference play, with the first against University of the Pacific, ending in a 3-1 Waves victory. Pepperdine most recently played Loyola Marymount University away, taking a close 2-3 loss.⁠
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But, playing at home brings a level of comfort for the Waves and was a nice breather for the team following a loss, multiple members said.⁠
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“It’s super nice that we’re home twice this week,” graduate outside hitter/opposite Birdie Hendrickson said. “Traveling on the road is obviously harder to get those wins, but I think this is a good night for us, especially coming after our loss.”⁠

Conference play is well underway for Pepperdine Women's Indoor Volleyball, and the team is on a roll. After a slow start to the season, the team has found their stride at just the right time.

10/24/2024

Pepperdine Indoor Women’s Volleyball defeated the University of Portland 3-0 Oct. 19, at Firestone Fieldhouse.⁠
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This victory is the first in-conference sweep for the Waves, moving to 6-1 on the season in conference play.⁠
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After a close first set 25-21, the Waves rallied to dominate the second set 25-12 and the third set 25-17, according to Pepperdine Athletics.⁠
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“It’s nice to win in three,” Head Coach Steve Wong said. “That’s the silver lining out of just playing some really good volleyball.”⁠

Pepperdine Women's Indoor Volleyball took down the University of Portland 3-0 in a clean sweep Oct 19 at Firestone Fieldhouse. The Waves improved to 6-1 for West Coast Conference play.