Four Waves Garner MPSF All-Academic Acclaim

MPSF RELEASE

MALIBU, Calif.: – Mitchell Penning, Joshua Stewart, Weston Barnes and David Wieczorek, of the Pepperdine men’s volleyball team, garnered Mountain Pacific Sports Federation All-Academic honors as announced by the league office on Tuesday afternoon.

The criteria includes a 3.00 or better cumulative grade point average; at least sophomore academic standing; one full academic year at the current institution completed; and have competed in 50 percent or more of the institution’s competition in his or her respective sport.

Seniors Mitchell Penning (St. Louis, Mo./Westminster Christian Academy) and Joshua Stewart (San Jose, Calif./Bellarmine Collegiate Preparatory/Pacific), redshirt-junior Weston Barnes (Laguna Beach, Calif./Laguna Beach HS) and redshirt-sophomore David Wieczorek (Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy) all garnered the honors for the Waves.

Penning graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion.  He amassed a 3.2 grade point average throughout four years with the Waves.  This is his third-consecutive MPSF All-Academic honor and he has been a four-time Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete.  This season, the middle blocker played and started in 21 total matches for the Waves, amassing 1.58 kills/set, 0.16 aces/set and led the team with 1.07 blocks/set this season.  He finished his senior season with a .415 attack output.

Stewart graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine after amassing a 3.3 grade point average at Pepperdine.  He has been a part of the Waves’ family for three seasons after transferring from University of the Pacific early in his career.  This is his second all-time MPSF All-Academic honor and he was also a Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete for three seasons.  This season, the setter led the team in playmaking duties throughout the majority of the campaign.  He posted 0.33 kills/set, 9.08 assists/set, 1.70 digs/set and 0.62 blocks/set.

Barnes earns his first MPSF All-Academic honor with the award after amassing a 3.3 grade point average as a redshirt-junior studying Economics.  He has played two seasons with the Waves after transferring from George Mason.  Last season, the libero garnered Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete honors.  Barnes is currently an active member of the Waves Leadership Council, the Waves revamped Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.  This past season, he led the team with 2.01 digs/set after posting 141 total digs.  He also totaled 0.47 assists/set for the Waves and a .951 reception percentage after posting 485 total reception attempts with only 24 total errors.

Wieczorek earned his second-straight MPSF All-Academic honor with the award after posting a 3.6 grade point average and studying Sport Administration.  He was also received honorable mention honors as an AVCA All-American, and was an All-MPSF first team honoree this season.  The outside hitter led the squad with 3.86 kills/set on a .354 hitting percentage. He also tabbed 0.21 aces/set, 1.11 digs/set and 0.59 blocks/set to boast a team-high 4.38 points/set average.

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