IRVINE, Calif. – The Concordia University Irvine men's volleyball took on No. 10 Pepperdine in the CU Arena Saturday and was pushed to the limit as they went to five sets and came up just short with scores 25-20, 22-25, 25-20, 20-25, and 12-15.

 
Middles continue to impress up at the net as Maxwell McCullough and Clement Osahon Jr. both put up a solo block and had a combined of seven block assists. Osahon Jr. was effective on offense as well putting down six kills while hitting a .625.

 
Gage Doble played the opposite position and led the Golden Eagles with 16 kills and nine digs. Makua Marumoto and Ties Cornelissen had 14 kills a-piece while Marumoto had nine digs from the back row. Christian Galoppo came into the game and made an immediate impact for CUI with six kills and a tall presence up at the net.
 

Yotam Briger distributed 49 assists and scooped up nine digs as well. Libero duo Johnny Anselmo and Jacob Reilly had 10 digs combined from the back row.

 
Both teams came out with vengeance each set as the score toggled between the two in each set and could have gone either way each time. The Waves won the fourth set to force a fifth deciding set. CUI took the lead at the side switch in the fifth at 8-7 but Pepperdine went on a three point run to take the lead back and finished the match by a close final score.

 
The Golden Eagles will face off in a non-conference match-up against Saint Xavier (Ill.) on Friday Mar. 8 in the CU Arena at 7 p.m.

 
To see the full CUI men's volleyball schedule click HERE.