MALIBU, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's volleyball team fell in straight sets to No. 6 Pepperdine on Friday night, 3-0 (25-15, 25-12, 25-12).

Mason Stokes led the Bobcats (3-12, 0-7) with six kills on a .357 hitting percentage. The junior also added a block.

Kaleb Cole pitched in two kills, two digs, and a block.

Anthony Alaniz and Daniel Del Grande contributed two blocks apiece with both Bobcats notching a solo block.

Toby Miller was good for six assists, one kill, and a block.

Other notables include six assists from Joel Toves and two kills from Joshua Woodhams.

UC Merced and Pepperdine were in a battle midway through the first set with the Waves leading 16-13. Stokes had two kills in the early goings. However, the Waves then scored four straight points and reeled off a 9-2 set-ending run to go up 1-0 in the match.

Pepperdine rolled in the second set to the tune of 13 kills on 15 attempts with just one attack error. The home team used an early 5-0 run to build an 11-4 lead and never looked back. Pepperdine led by double figures as early as the 18-8 mark.

Stokes opened the third set with a kill and the Bobcats were tied 6-6 but couldn't keep up with the Waves the rest of the way. Pepperdine led 9-8 and then surged ahead with an 8-1 run to go up 17-9, highlighted by five kills. The Bobcats scored two straight before the Waves used another 8-1 run to end the match, 25-12. Pepperdine hit .346 in the frame while holding the Bobcats to a -.037 mark.

Pepperdine finished the match with a .419 hitting percentage.

Looking ahead, UC Merced will play No. 6 Pepperdine again on Saturday, March 21 at 4:00pm inside Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, Calif.