For Nina Matthies it’s about more than just winning. It’s about passion for a game that has been part of her life for more than 40 years. And on Sept. 11 Matthies reached a milestone that solidified her place in Pepperdine women’s volleyball history as if she weren’t there already.
Clinching her 500th win in her 27th season as head coach of the women’s volleyball program by sweeping Seattle in the Waves’ Pepperdine Asics Classic in Firestone Fieldhouse Sept. 11 Matthies showed that Pepperdine has been a dominant force in women’s volleyball for a number of years and plans to be for many years to come.
And even though most would consider 500 wins an impressive feat Matthies’ humbleness concerning the event makes it even more impressive.
“I’m not really a stat person Matthies said. I don’t really keep track of personal gains even in life. I think [the wins] stand for the program and I think that this program has been in the top 20 for all of my 27 years which just says that we have had great players here a great coaching staff and a lot of support.”
She remains unwavering in her belief that she alone is not responsible for this landmark.
“For my team to have 500 wins in that amount of time speaks a lot about Pepperdine’s support for women’s volleyball Matthies said.
Nonetheless, her biography is impressive. Nationally recognized as both a player and a coach, Matthies has led the Waves to 10 West Coast Conference titles and 18 NCAA Tournament appearances. Under her instruction, Pepperdine ended both the 2002 and 2003 season with a No. 6 national ranking, and her goals for this season are nothing lower.
Our specific goals are to win the conference and get a bid to the NCAA tournament Matthies said. We need to be in the top one to two of our conference and there is no reason for this team to not win our conference this year.”
Matthies admits they are competing in a very tough region facing teams such No. 4 Hawaii No. 16 USC and No. 7 UCLA which is still coached by the same man who saw Matthies through her college standout years. Even still she has unrelenting confidence in her team’s ability against these tough competitors.
“I think this team is very athletic and they are absolutely fantastic young women Matthies said.
Even though Matthies made her reputation in the coaching world, she spent much of her youth and early adulthood as a standout player.
A two-year team captain at UCLA, she was honored as one of the top 25 players in UCLA volleyball history. But even an accomplishment such is that one isn’t enough to move Matthies from her humble state.
Maybe I was born in a time when there weren’t so many women playing Matthies said. I have been in a lot of good places historically and maybe some of it was me being in the right place at the right time but I’ve been very fortunate… It’s nice to be recognized for that passion that you have had for a lifetime.”
After her college years she continued on into the realm of professional volleyball where she became recognized as one of the world’s top volleyball players. During this time she represented the United States in the Pan Am Games and five years ago was awarded seven plaques at the Manhattan Beach Volleyball Walk of Fame each of which represented one of her Manhattan Beach Open titles. This success also secured her a spot in the Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame.
She quit playing professionally in 1993 when she made a personal decision to focus more on her family including two sons who are both talented athletes themselves
With success like this she is eager to pass on her knowledge of the sport to student-athletes who share her passion and are privileged enough to play for her.
“You guys go to school here but have to leave after four years Matthies said. I have found a way to stay in college for 27 years, but I don’t have to go to class, which is an added bonus. I get to be around young people and be a part of their lives. It’s a pretty good job.
And there are many people who would agree with Matthies when she says there is no nicer place than Pepperdine University. She began her coaching career at Pepperdine 27 years ago at the age of 29 and couldn’t be happier with how things have turned out.
“For me it has been a great place to grow up and raise my family she said. Pepperdine has the background and the mission and everything that I feel is right in sports and life she continued.
But even though Pepperdine is a place Matthies wouldn’t dream of leaving, she has a definite appreciation for her life away from the court.
My family is very important to me as well as my kids and my life away from here Matthies said. I think I have been able to stay in this and enjoy coaching for so long because I have a very balanced life. I can walk away from here and go home and nobody cares about me being a volleyball coach. I love where we live and I love to take time for myself. “
She is a true example of someone who is genuinely happy with their career and the life that it brings.
“Life without [coaching] is great Matthies said. If I didn’t have this my life would be great. So being able to coach and work here is the proverbial icing on the cake.”