Beach Volleyball Signs Gigi Hernandez to NLI
11/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball
MALIBU, Calif. — The Pepperdine beach volleyball team, at the leadership of head coach Nina Matthies, has announced the addition of Gigi Hernandez to the squad. The San Juan Capistrano native has signed her national letter of intent and will graduate from JSerra Catholic High School in 2016.
"I chose Pepperdine because every time I'm with the coaches and athletes, I feel like I am part of the Pepp family," said Hernandez. That's what a team should be about - loving your teammates and working together, I can't wait to be a Wave!"
Hernandez embodies the Pepperdine spirit in many ways, and has proven so on and off the sand.
After performances on the court throughout high school, she has been honored as a four-time Trinity League First Team selection. She helped lead the Lions to qualify for the California Interscholastic Federation tournament in 2014 and 2015 for the school's first-ever appearances.
Hernandez also played in the Manhattan Junior Open for six consecutive years and ranked top 70 in the 2015 Top Adult Open Players CBVA rankings. Most recently, she finished 9th alongside partner Lindsey Knudsen the sister of current Waves beach volleyball student-athlete Delaney Knudsen, at the USA Volleyball Championships in Santa Monica. Also in 2015, Hernandez took 5th at the CBVA Huntington State Beach Championships at the Women's Open Sand level in September and 2nd in the U18 Gold CBVA Huntington State Beach Championships in August. In 2014, Hernandez won the 16U 2014 West Coach AAU Junior Olympic games alongside partner Natalie Anselmo, while also earning the opportunity to train with the 19U USA Beach Volleyball squad.
She has two brothers who also excelled in collegiate athletics in California. Cutberto Hernandez, Jr., who played water polo for PCH-rivals Loyola Marymount and earned a silver medal playing for the Mexican National team at the Central American Games, and her brother Christian Hernandez who played basketball at University of San Francisco.
Off the beach, the soon-to-be Wave has recently become passionate about helping with food and clothing drives for those in need, including visits to an orphanage in Baja California, Door of Faith.
