Much of the nationally ranked Pepperdine volleyball team’s success this year has fallen on the shoulders of J.D. Schleppenbach. The 6-foot-4-inch senior from Ventura has helped lead the Waves to the top.
With an All American-type season Schleppenbach has finally overcome multiple injuries suffered throughout his career.
During his senior year at Ventura High School Schleppenbach tore the meniscus in his left knee during a basketball game. It required surgery twice — once in high school and another during his freshmen year at Pepperdine.
Then Schleppenbach was forced to sit out most of his junior year because of a snapped bone in his left ankle.
“Missing Junior Olympics that year was tough. I wasn’t sure if I was going to get any looks from schools said Schleppenbach. High school is not really where you get looks from colleges — it is all about Junior Olympics.”
With a little assistance from his club volleyball coach Schleppenbach soon after surgery received letters from UC San Diego USC and UCLA. His club coach also had close ties with Waves coach Marv Dunphy.With no scholarship available Schleppenbach walked onto the volleyball team as a libero instead of his normal position at outside hitter. Injuries made Coach Dunphy wary about whether he wanted to start the young freshman at a vital spot on the court.”Coach was worried about my knee so he wanted me at libero said Schleppenbach. I can also dig play good defense and set up my other teammates so trying this new position was not hard for me.”By his sophomore year Schleppenbach returned to outside hitter with a healthy knee. That year he averaged 2.73 kills and 1.33 blocks per game.During his junior year Schleppenbach had a sub-par regular season compared to his sophomore year. The Waves still made it to the postseason though where Schleppenbach made a run that would not soon be forgotten leading his team all the way to national championship game against powerhouse Penn State.
The Waves lost against the Nittany Lions but Schleppenbach was named to the all-tournament team.Being a volleyball player runs deep through his veins. His father Peter is a former standout volleyball player at UCLA and his older sister Carly played volleyball in high school and in junior college.From a young age Schleppenbach has looked to his father and sister to learn how to play the game.”I would always go watch my dad play beach volleyball on the beaches back home in Ventura said Schleppenbach. At first I started off playing beach then as I got older and started playing Junior Olympics in the gym.”Schleppenbach refers to himself as a “gym rat”. He would always be in the gym working on his serve or his kills — always trying to make himself a better overall player.Being a fifth-year senior Schleppenbach is called the old man or grandpa of the team. Players constantly nag him about whether he will ever graduate. If the players really want to get underneath his skin they will just call him mom.Schleppenbach is also called Jerry or Jumbo Jerry. The team elected to call him this because when he hits a volleyball it curves and looks like a jumbo shrimp.
“Sometimes when I am out there on the court and somebody will yell out my name and I do not respond said Schleppenbach. But when they call me Jerry I will automatically pay attention. “J.D. does not follow a true pre-game routine. As his teammates have pointed out he is getting older. So this year Schleppenbach has taken a hot shower to help loosen up his muscles before games.
“A hot shower really helps when we travel on the road said Schleppenbach. When we are stuck in a hotel room eating fast food all day a hot shower really helps me get ready.”
With his senior year nearly coming to end Schleppenbach looks back at his career with a smile that stretches across his entire face. He loves his teammates and he says the journey that he has been on with them has been incredible.
He also recognizes that he has been blessed by God to even be playing Division 1 athletics at all.”With all my injuries throughout my high school and college career I am extremely lucky Schleppenbach said. I play for God every time I step out onto the court because I recognize what he has done for me.”
A professional career is definitely in the playing cards for this Wave. Schleppenbach has often pondered the idea of playing professional volleyball perhaps overseas.
“It would be a hard transition for me being in a new country all by myself Schleppenbach said. I would love to give it a try.”