Larsen, Messing Earn WCC All-Academic Honors
11/20/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 20, 2013
MALIBU, Calif. - As the end of the 2013 regular season approaches the annual West Coast Conference awards begin to pour in for the Pepperdine women's volleyball team. Kelley Larsen and Katie Messing were voted to the WCC All-Academic Team, as announced today by the league office.
Larsen (Jamul, Calif./Christian HS) earned first-team status, while Messing ((The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands HS) snagged a spot on the honorable mention list.
At the conclusion of each athletic season, the WCC selects an all-academic squad for each conference-sponsored sport. To be considered, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average, while also being a significant contributor to her team.
Larsen has averaged 2.80 kills per set for the Waves this season, in addition to 2.76 digs per set. Most recently, she set a career high with 20 kills in a 3-2 upset victory over Saint Mary's. She replicated those 20 kills in a five-set win on Senior Day against Loyola Marymount.
The senior outside hitter leads Pepperdine this year with 10 kills-digs double doubles heading into the final week of the regular season.
Off the court, Larsen maintains an impressive 3.47 grade point average while pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in sports medicine.
Messing (The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands HS) has shouldered the majority of the Waves' offense this season, averaging a team-best 3.54 kills per set. Amongst the conference leaders, her kills average ranks sixth.
She has reached double digits in kills in 21 of the season's 24 matches.
The junior outside hitter ranks second behind Larsen with seven kills-digs double doubles to her credit in 2013. Back in October, she set a new personal-best with 20 digs vs. BYU.
Messing is a public relations major and boasts a GPA of 3.22.
Pepperdine concludes the regular season this week on the road with matches at San Francisco (11/21) and Santa Clara (11/23)
| 2013 WEST COAST CONFERENCE WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM | ||||
| Name | School | Class | GPA | Major |
| Rachel Alvey | San Diego | Sr. | 3.53 | Accounting |
| Alaysia Brown | San Diego | Jr. | 3.68 | Psychology |
| Haley Cameron | Santa Clara | Sr. | 3.63 | Liberal Studies |
| Kristina Graven | Saint Mary's | Sr. | 3.92 | Psychology |
| Lauren Joseph | Gonzaga | So. | 3.76 | Mechanical Engineering |
| Rebecca Kopilovitch | San Francisco | Sr. | 3.94 | Finance |
| Kelley Larsen | Pepperdine | Sr. | 3.47 | Sports Medicine |
| Ciara Parker | BYU | So. | 3.64 | Exercise & Wellness |
| Kat Schulz | Pacific | So. | 4.00 | Sports Medicine |
| Kimmy Whitson | Pacific | So. | 3.81 | Computing & Applied Economics |
| Tia Withers Welling | BYU | Jr. | 3.79 | P.E. Teaching/Coaching |
| Valentina Zaloznik | San Francisco | Jr. | 3.80 | Business Administration |
| 2013 WCC VOLLEYBALL ALL-ACADEMIC HONORABLE MENTION Megan Birch, PAC; Dalas Dodd, SMC; Katherine Douglas, SCU; Mia Feiner, PAC; Katie Hoekman, USD; Katie Mardesich, POR; Katie Messing, PEP; Amber Mirabello, LMU; Deanna Nielson, GON; Mileva Popovic, SMC; Katy Schatzman, SCU; Samantha Tinsley; SMC | ||||
