Feb. 4, 2004
MALIBU, CA - In just his second full season as the starting setter for the second ranked Pepperdine University men's volleyball team, junior John Mayer has already made a dent in the Waves' athletic program thanks to respectable work ethics both on and off the court. For his efforts, Mayer was named Pepperdine Student-Athlete of the Month for January, Director of Athletics, Dr. John Watson announced today.
The Pepperdine Student Athlete-of-the-Month showcases an athlete each month that has demonstrated excellence in all areas of his/her life. Athletic administrators at the University choose the award.
The near-by Thousand Oaks, Calif., native is key to the Waves' success on the court, but he has also been very successful in the classroom. He currently holds an above-average grade point average as a Liberal Arts major.
"John is a wonderful young man that comes from a great family," Pepperdine head coach Marv Dunphy said. "He aims to do the best in all areas of his life and John makes others around him want to work harder."
John's journey to Pepperdine is an achievement in itself. After not getting seriously involved in volleyball until his junior year of high school, he opted to travel the junior college route at L.A. Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. Through hard work and discipline two years later, the 6-2, 180-pounder found himself as the starting setter with a highly regarded Pepperdine program under Dunphy's direction.
With one year under his belt, Mayer stormed out on top in January and paced his then No. 1 team to a 6-1 record and 18 straight game wins. He led the Waves in assists (13.90 a/g) and aces (0.30 sa/g) and he was second in both digs (2.10 d/g) and blocks (0.90).
"John loves to play the game and it shows," Dunphy commented while laughing. "He's basically a volleyball gym rat and I have to stop him from going after balls that are heading into the stands, into the lobby, and onto PCH. Last year in the first round of the play offs he took me out pursuing a ball...let's hope he doesn't do that again."
The Pepperdine Student-Athlete of the Month recognizes outstanding student-athlete each month. Past winners include: Sean Rooney (men's volleyball), Carolina Llano (women's golf), Jesse Smith (water polo), Kelli Spencer (women's basketball) and Keith Jarbo (men's basketball). Rooney earned the first accolade after competing for Team USA this past summer in Korea, Llano accounted for a hole-in-one and earned a national ranking of No. 1 golfer in the nation during September, Smith became the first ever Pepperdine athlete to garner NCAA Player of the Week honors, Spencer led the women's basketball team in scoring and earned the highest GPA in the WCC last semester, and Jarbo, a former walk-on, sports a 3.71 GPA and earned starting role with the Waves.
