DAVID NAKAGAMI
Assistant Sports Editor
Last year, a Pepperdine women’s volleyball team which started three freshmen and two sophomores reached the NCAA Tournament, only to be bounced in the first round. Despite dropping their first three games of the 2006 campaign, the Waves hit their stride as the season wore on, winning 10 of their last 12 games, before NCAA Tournament host Long Beach State sent them packing.
“We didn’t finish how we wanted to,” junior Julie Rubenstein said. “But the experience from the tournament will carry over to this year.”
Although the team was sent packing hastily, Pepperdine returns nine players, including five starters.
Even though their season ended prematurely, the Waves’ early postseason exit may not be an accurate summation of their season; instead, it is important to take into account the team’s whole body of work to assess its success.
The ladies of the hardcourt logged a 16-12 overall record, with an impressive 11-3 profile against conference challengers. The Waves finished the season ranked second in the West Coast Conference behind San Diego.
With such a bright future, it is easy to see why the Waves usher in the 2007 campaign with high expectations. Pepperdine’s women’s volleyball team was chosen by WCC head coaches as the preseason favorite to win the regular season conference title, tallying five of the eight first-place votes.
“Those are our expectations being here at Pepperdine,” Head Coach Nina Matthies said. “That’s why we’re here, so it’s no pressure.”
The Waves also welcome a strong recruiting class, headlined by Kristen Seaton, named a “Fab 50” in Volleyball Magazine. The Terra Haute, Ind., native is joined by Krista Friedman of La Verne, Calif., and Kealohilani Kea of Honolulu, Hawaii. Pepperdine will look for the incoming freshmen to counterbalance the departure of its graduates.
“Everybody’s going to get a chance to help the team,” said Matthies, who begins her 25th season at the helm of the women’s volleyball program. “We’re a deep team, 12 solid.”
No matter the goals that others set, players say the team’s own standards supersede outside influences.
“Our goal every year is to win,” Matthies said. “Our personal goal is to win at home for our fans.”
Rubenstein, an outside hitter, echoed her coach’s sentiments and spoke further about the team’s aspirations.
“One of our goals as a team is to win the conference,” Rubenstein said. “It’s a goal we set for ourselves, so it’s good to hear that other people believe we can too.”
Although the Waves possess all the necessary pieces to make a deep run into the postseason, the conference title is not at the forefront of their minds; Pepperdine is looking more short term.
“We’re going to take it one match at a time,” said Rubenstein. “We want to play and have fun with it, that’s why we started playing the game.”
Pepperdine opened the 2007 season Friday on the road, when it swept Pittsburgh 3-0.
The Waves return to Malibu a week later to host the Asics Classic on Friday. Pepperdine’s home opener is scheduled for 5 p.m. against Nevada in Firestone Fieldhouse.
08-27-2007