Matthies Adds Talent to Roster
11/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball
MALIBU, Calif. - Pepperdine sand volleyball coach Nina Matthies announced the addition of five sand-only student-athletes to her two-time national championship winning squad. Kaity Bailey, Skylar Caputo, Madalyn Roh and Anika Wilson have all signed a National Letter of Intent and will join the Waves in 2015-16. Additionally, Corinne Quiggle has also committed to Pepperdine and is heading to Malibu in January.
"We're excited about all our incoming kids and their families. They've all really embraced Pepperdine," said Matthies, who is once again assisted by Marcio Sicoli and Jon Dazé. "The last of the inaugural 2012 team will be graduating after this season, and they've done a fantastic job laying the foundation. This is our first big sand class, and we're excited for them to take over the reins and become the cornerstone of the team."
Matthies is not only referencing Baily, Caputo, Quiggle, Roh and Wilson, but several of the recent indoor volleyball commits as well. Many of them possess extensive experience playing on the sand, and the Waves can expect a number of dual-sport athletes to emerge from the bunch.
Pepperdine returns 11 letterwinners to the 2015 squad, including eight lineup regulars from 2014. Three members of the 2012 team - Emily Cook, Kelley Larsen and Kellie Woolever - will finish up their careers as Waves in 2015 and are the first graduating sand class to have played four seasons with Pepperdine's newest program.
Here's a more in-depth look at the incoming class:
KAITY BAILEY
Ojai, Calif. | Villanova Preparatory School
6-2
HIGH SCHOOL: Outside hitter for the Villanova indoor volleyball team … Earned All-CIF Southern Section first-team acclaim as a junior … Also awarded All-Ventura County second team and All-Frontier first team distinction in 2013 … Broke several indoor records including kills in a match (33), kills in a season (477), aces in a season (105) and kills in a career (851) … First set record for kills in a match as a sophomore with 32 … All-Frontier first team pick as a sophomore and a second-team All-Tri-Valley League performer as a freshman … Boasts a GPA of over 4.0 and an annual honor roll student … Also lettered in swimming … Was an All-Tri-Valley League second team performer and broke two school records in the pool.
USA VOLLEYBALL/CLUB: Member of the 2014 USAV Beach U19 National Team … Member of the U17 squad the year before … Currently trains with Elite Beach Volleyball, under the coaching of beach volleyball legends Holly McPeak, Barbra Fontana and Eric Fonoimoana … Earned a AAA rating at age 15 after only picking up the sport the year before … At age 14, finished fifth in the 18s division at the Cal Cup … Followed that up with a 13th-place showing at the USAV U17 High Performance Championship … Also played indoor club volleyball for LAVA.
PERSONAL: Mother, Michele, was a swimmer at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo … Has one older brother, Austin, and a younger sister, Maddy … Uncle Mark Shaffer swam for UC Santa Barbara and was a finalist in the 200 butterfly at the 1988 Olympic Trials … Grandpa Frank Bailey played basketball for the Gauchos.
BAILEY ON PEPPERDINE: "Pepperdine is the perfect fit for me. It has the best beach program, and coaches that can take me where I want to go. I love the school, people and location."
MATTHIES ON BAILEY: "Kaity is a great offensive weapon, not to mention a great student. She's a strong blocking candidate; she's got a good arm and should fall into that role well. She has a lot of experience playing with USA Volleyball and comes from good coaching. This incoming group is full of leaders and Kaity is no exception."
SKYLAR CAPUTO
Manhattan Beach, Calif. | Mira Costa High School
5-10
HIGH SCHOOL: Led Mira Costa to back-to-back IBVL Beach Volleyball Team Championship titles as a junior and sophomore after finishing runner up as a freshman … Won the IBVL Pairs Championship as well as in 2013 and 2014 … Annually earns Student Honor Athlete recognition … Also an outside hitter and libero for perennial power Mira Costa … Captain of the indoor squad as a senior … Earned All-CIF Southern Section Div. 1AA and All-Bay League first team acclaim as a junior outside hitter.
USA VOLLEYBALL/CLUB: Member of the USAV A1 High Performance team … Placed ninth at the FIVB U19 Beach Volleyball World Championships alongside current Wave Delaney Knudsen during the summer of 2014 … USA Volleyball High Performance U19 Champion … Currently ranked 2nd in the CBVA Women's Open/AAA point rankings … Took fifth at the IOC Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China … AAU Junior Olympics Beach Volleyball 18s champion … Has also participated and traveled with USA Volleyball for the indoor game … Currently trains with Elite Beach Volleyball, under the coaching of beach volleyball legends Holly McPeak, Barbra Fontana and Eric Fonoimoana.
PERSONAL: Mother, Lisa, was an All-American swimmer at Cal State Northridge.
CAPUTO ON PEPPERDINE: "I chose Pepperdine because it has an amazing beach volleyball program. I also chose Pepperdine because it is the perfect fit for my lifestyle of living close to the beach while being on a small, intimate, Christian campus with great academics and strong values."
MATTHIES ON CAPUTO: "Skylar is perhaps one of the hardest workers on the beach. She's only got one speed and it's on! She's a great all-around player and one of the top beach recruits. Skylar loves to play, loves to compete and just a fun person to be around."
CORINNE QUIGGLE
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. | Ponte Vedra High School
5-10
HIGH SCHOOL: Will graduate from Ponte Vedra High School in December 2014, and join the Waves in January 2015 … Served as a setter for the indoor team … Made the 2013 AVCA Phenom list … All-First Coast team selection as a junior … Also earned MVP distinction as a freshman and junior … 2012 St. Augustine Record All-County performer … Earned an honorable mention on the 2012 Florida Times Union All-Area list … Helped lead squad to three district championships … National Honor Society member.
USA VOLLEYBALL/CLUB: Played club for the Jacksonville Junior Volleyball Association and the Beaches Volleyball Academy … Member of the USAV A1 beach volleyball team (U19) in 2014 … Member of the USAV A2 indoor volleyball team in 2013 … Won the 2014 USAV High Performance Championship (U19).
PERSONAL: Daughter of Dan and Luanne … Has one older brother, Justin, and one younger brother, Eric … Justin also attends Pepperdine … Mother played tennis for UNC Greensboro
QUIGGLE ON PEPPERDINE: "Pepperdine has been my dream school since I was a little girl. The coaching staff for the sand program is phenomenal, and the campus is spectacular."
MATTHIES ON QUIGGLE: "Corrine is a tremendous athlete and comes from a great family, and we're excited to add her to our Pepperdine family. She's a solid, all-around volleyball player and had a great summer training with the USA Volleyball group. She's going to come in and add to our depth."
MADALYN ROH
Scottsdale, Ariz. | Chaparral High School
5-11
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year starter for the indoor squad … Earned Most Improved Award as a freshman … Awarded MVP honors as a junior.
USA VOLLEYBALL/CLUB: Member of the RPM Sand Volleyball Club … Won the AAU National Sand Championship in Hermosa Beach last season … Holds a AAA rating … Spent the last two years competing for the USAV A2 High Performance team … Played indoor club volleyball for Spiral … Placed second in the patriot division at the USAV Junior National Championships as a sophomore.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Cynthia and Fred … Father played basketball at Grand Valley State in Allendale, Mich. … Has three brothers, Craig, Jake and Luke … Craig was an All-Big Ten linebacker for Michigan … Luke is currently in his senior season playing basketball for Colgate … Jake is currently in his redshirt freshman season playing football for Boise State … Fellowship of Christian Athletes leader at Chaparral … Enjoys cooking.
ROH ON PEPPERDINE: "The sand program at Pepperdine is definitely one in a million with amazing coaches and girls on the team. Coming from Arizona, it was a high priority for me to be near the beach, and the location of Pepperdine is a dream come true. I couldn't be happier with my decision and I can't wait to become closer with the team, experience the environment and see what opportunities are in store for me at Pepperdine."
MATTHIES ON ROH: "Maddy is an unreal athlete and comes from a family of athletes. We're really excited to start working with her. She's a great passer and going to be a fantastic defender. She's got a great leap too and really an all-around volleyball player. Maddy is just a superior athlete."
ANIKA WILSON
Santa Barbara, Calif. | San Marcos High School
5-9
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year starter for San Marcos, serving as an outside hitter, right side hitter and libero … Led squad to the Channel League Championship in 20152 and 2014 … Earned All-Channel League first-team distinction as a junior after being named a second-team performer the season prior … An All-Santa Barbara County pick in 2012 … San Marcos High School MVP as a junior.
USA VOLLEYBALL/CLUB: Currently trains with Elite Beach Volleyball, under the coaching of beach volleyball legends Holly McPeak, Barbra Fontana and Eric Fonoimoana … Trained with the USAV A2 (U19) team in 2013 and 2014 … Placed fourth at the 2014 USAV High Performance Championship after taking 13th the year prior … Won the 2014 International Children's Games held in the French West Indies … Also played indoor volleyball with the Santa Barbara Volleyball Club … Placed fifth in the 16 national division at the 2013 USAV Junior National Championship
PERSONAL: Brother won an NCAA Championship while playing water polo at Stanford … Grandmother was a long-time professional tennis player.
WILSON ON PEPPERDINE: "I chose Pepperdine because it has an amazing sand volleyball program, great coaches, high-level academics, and a beautiful campus.
MATTHIES ON WILSON: "Anika is a good leader, she's quick and she's a really hard worker. She'll be a huge asset to our team, especially with her defense. She has a lot of offensive weapons as well, is brilliant in the classroom, comes from a great, supportive family and will be a tremendous addition."
