Dec. 30, 2015 NOTES
MALIBU, Calif.: - The Pepperdine men's volleyball team heads into the 2016 season this weekend, starting the new campaign off with a pair of exhibition matches against the University of Saskatchewan on Saturday and Sunday. The Waves will host the matches in Firestone Fieldhouse with Saturday's matchup beginning at noon and Sunday's first serve marked for 2 p.m.
MATCH 1 - Saturday (January 2) at Firestone Fieldhouse - Malibu, Calif.: No. 11 (AVCA) Pepperdine vs. No. 7 (CIS) Saskatchewan (6-6, 6-6 CWUAA) at 12 p.m.
MATCH 2 - Sunday (January 3) at Firestone Fieldhouse - Malibu, Calif.: No. 11 (AVCA) Pepperdine vs. No. 7 (CIS) Saskatchewan (6-6, 6-6 CWUAA) at 2 p.m.
NEW YEAR, NEW SEASON: Veteran head coach Marv Dunphy and the 2016 Pepperdine men's volleyball squad will kick off the new year with a new season, determined to excel on the court after putting up hard work and a strong effort. The Waves will enter the first competitions ranked No. 11 on the AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll and No. 7 on the MPSF Preseason Coaches Poll.
"This year is not unlike every year," said Dunphy. "Every team wants to be as good as they can possibly be and wanted to maximize everything they can do to be good. We have a lot of new faces and therefore a lot of things to put in place individually and as a team to meet the standards we are familiar with."
Helping Dunphy, now in his 33rd season at Pepperdine, put things in place this season are returning assistant coach David Hunt and newcomer, but well-recognized Pepperdine face, Sean Rooney. Also joining the ranks is volunteer assistant coach Kayla Banwarth, who serves as the starting libero for the U.S. National Women's Volleyball team.
Pepperdine played in four preseason exhibition matches late in 2015, all of which lasted five sets against Hawai'i, Stanford, BYU and Cal Baptist to gear up for the 2016 campaign. The matches gave the coaching staff a chance to see how the returners and newcomers alike worked together on the court.
"It's an opportunity to play someone other than your teammates on the other side of the net," Dunphy said. "Every time we practice or play, we learn something and are able to identify things to work on. We've worked on the things we've learned and will continue to do so."
Among the tested starting returners include Matt Tarantino (Sr., MB, 6-8) and Mitchell Penning (Jr., MB, 6-7), who helped the 2015 squad to a 24-6 overall record and 17-5 record within MPSF play, earning a chance to play for the MPSF title. Both returners garnered preseason honors earlier this week. Tarantino picked up an Off The Block/Springbak, Inc. Preseason All-American Second Team honor while Penning was tabbed to the second team.
Also returning include juniors Soren Dion-Kindem (S, 6-2), James Gehrels (OH, 6-4), Chad McCallister (L, 6-0), Max States (OH, 6-1) and Joshua Stewart (S, 6-4) and sophomores Colby Harriman (OH, 6-4), Clay Carr (OPP, 6-6) and David Wieczorek (OH, 6-7).
The Waves added eight freshmen and two transfers to the squad, including Tommy Carmody (Sr., MB, 6-9) out of Pacific, and Weston Barnes (So., L, 6-1) out of George Mason. Also joining the ranks include freshmen Michael Wexter (OH, 6-6), Jack Cole (MB, 6-6), Daniel Vaziri (OPP/MB, 6-6), Michael Fisher (OH, 6-5), Kaleb Denmark (OH, 6-4), Max Chamberlain (MB, 6-6), Augie Miller (OPP, 6-4) and Nolan Sharp (L, 5-10).
"With the new faces, we will look to see who develops and matures, and who makes themselves so good that I can't afford not to play them," said Dunphy. "That's the nature of teams, where you compete not just against the other team, but also within your own team, competing for playing time, to travel, to start, to get all the teams. We see a lot of competition in almost every position."
SETTERS
Returning juniors Soren Dion-Kindem (Agoura Hills, Calif./Agoura HS) and Joshua Stewart (San Jose, Calif./Bellarmine College Preparatory/Pacific) will serve as the primary play-makers for the Waves. Dion-Kindem comes off his second consecutive summer with the U.S. Junior National Team and Stewart hits the court with a wealth of MPSF knowledge with experience playing with Pepperdine and with Pacific prior to his transfer.
"Soren and Josh return as setters so we feel pretty comfortable in that position," said Dunphy. "During the fall, we also had Wexter (Michael Wexter, freshman), who is a good volleyball player put some time in there and he did good as well."
LIBEROS
Coach Dunphy is excited for the depth in libero personnel this year, with returning junior Chad McCallister (Huntington Beach, Calif./Marina HS) and newcomers sophomore Weston Barnes (Laguna Beach, Calif./Laguna Beach HS/George Mason) and freshman Nolan Sharp (El Segundo, Calif./El Segundo HS).
McCallister appeared in one match against North Greenville in 2015 and redshirted in 2014. Barnes joins the squad after spending two seasons at George Mason, playing in 64 sets in 2015, while recording 83 digs, 1.30 digs/set and a career-high 17 digs against Harvard in the EIVA Championship semi-final match. He was also an All-League performer in 2012 and 2013 for Laguna Beach HS and earned All-CIF First Team and Orange County All-Star honors in 2013. Sharp was a standout performer for El Segundo HS, earning All-CIF First Team and All-Ocean League Defensive Player of the Year in his senior campaign.
"We feel like we have some depth in this position, maybe for the first time," Dunphy said. "It's good for us. The surprise for us in the fall was Sharp who played his way onto the team. We feel comfortable with all three.
OUTSIDE HITTERS
There is a wealth of depth with outside hitter personnel with three returners and two newcomers in the position. Junior James Gehrels (Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe Catholic HS) and sophomores Colby Harriman (Rochester, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit HS) and David Wieczorek (Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy) returned to Malibu this season.
Gehrels appeared in eight matches last season, amassing a three kills, three dig match at UC San Diego. He is also the Pepperdine SAAC co-president and a multi-year Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete. Harriman spent another summer playing for the U.S. Junior National Team and Wieczorek will also look to make an impact on the court.
"We graduated all of our starting outside hitters from last year," said Dunphy. "We have a little bit of experience from guys that have been in the program including Jimmy, Colby and Dave, so we are counting on them along with the freshmen that step up."
Freshmen Michael Fisher (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley HS) and Kaleb Denmark (Redlands, Calif./Arrowhead Christian Academy) have all joined up as well.
Fisher joins the outside after finishing a stellar career at Cumberland Valley HS, amassing 265 kills, 15 aces, 41 digs and 14.5 total blocks in his 2015 campaign. Denmark competed for the U.S. Junior National Beach Team and was named Ambassador League MVP and Player of the Year while picking up All-Ambassador League First Team honors while playing for Arrowhead Christian Academy.
OPPOSITES
Pepperdine has a few players able to step up as opposite hitters, and fans can expect to see a few multi-position players testing the waters on the right side throughout the season. Returning to the squad will be senior Matt Tarantino (Van Nuys, Calif./Bishop Alemany HS), junior Max States (Honolulu, Hawai'i/Solimar Academy) and sophomore Clay Carr (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor HS).
Tarantino returns as an All-MPSF Second Teamer. He ranked second in the conference with a .428 hitting percentage and 0.40 service aces/set last season.
"Tarantino was in the middle for us last year," Dunphy said. "I think middle is his best position because he has a lot of range and is a good hitter and blocker from the middle, but we have him moving to opposite this season so we will see how that goes."
Carr did not see any action in 2015. He spent 2013 playing with the U.S. Youth National training team and graduated from NHHS as an All-Sunset League First Team pick. States appeared in 23 matches and 69 sets throughout the 2015 campaign, posting six aces and eight digs on the season.
"Tarantino, Wexter and States will be able to fill this role," said Dunphy. "Max can do a lot of things and he's a really good volleyball athlete. "He could be a libero, an outside, an opposite, and we are not opposed to having him play any position. When we want to win a match, we put him in.
Adding to the depth will be freshmen Michael Wexter (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West HS), Daniel Vaziri (Sherman Oaks, Calif./Notre Dame HS) and Augie Miller (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar HS).
Wexter was a member of the U.S. Junior National Team in 2015 and the U.S. A1 Continental Team in 2014. He was named Joliet Herald and Daily Southtown Player of the Year, while earning a spot on the All-State First Team in his senior campaign. Vaziri comes to Pepperdine after spending one season at Santa Monica College, leading the California Community College Athletic Association with a .505 hitting percentage. Miller joins the squad after tabbing All-Pacific Coast League First Team and All-Orange County Second Team honors. He produced 230 kills and 68 total blocks throughout his senior season.
MIDDLE BLOCKERS
Closing out the squad for the Waves include a strong middle blocking staff. Returning to the ranks this season includes junior Mitchell Penning (St. Louis, Mo./Westminster Christian Academy).
Penning ranked ninth in the MPSF with 1.16 blocks/set last season after leading the Waves with 104 blocks assists and nine blocks solos throughout the 2015 campaign.
"I'm looking for Penning to have a good year," said Dunphy. "He's improved as a volleyball athlete and has worked really hard. I'm really proud of that."
The returners are joined by senior transfer Tommy Carmody (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg HS/Pacific) who spent his previous seasons at fellow MPSF opponents Pacific and freshmen Jack Cole (Lafayette, Calif./Campolindo HS) and Max Chamberlain (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs HS).
"We hope Carmody will round himself back into volleyball shape since he hasn't played in a year and a half," Dunphy said. "As the season goes on, we will look for him to carry a big load."
Carmody posted 107 blocks, including an MPSF-high 20 solo blocks in 2013, while adding 147 kills in 291 attempts for a .320 hitting percentage. He also led Carl Sandburg HS to an Illinois State Championship match in 2011.
Cole joins the squad after leading CHS to a BCL-East Championship title, while tabbing All-School Male Athlete of the Year and BCL-East Most Outstanding Player status in the 2014-15 season. Chamberlain led JBHS to a sixth-consecutive Pacific League title in 2015 and led the team in kills and was second in aces. Throughout the season he tallied 167 kills, 33 blocks, 29 digs and 13 aces for the team.
COVERAGE - Can't make it out to the match? No problem! PepperdineSports.com offers a wide variety of FREE options to follow along with all your favorite teams. WaveCasts broadcasts all home matches for free on your computer or mobile device. Veteran play-by-play announcer Al Epstein will once again serve as the voice of Pepperdine volleyball in 2016. Links to any available live stats, video and audio can always be found by clicking on a particular event on the men's volleyball schedule page at PepperdineSports.com.
TICKETS - Admission is free for Pepperdine students, faculty and staff with a valid Pepperdine ID. Call the Ticket Office at (866) WAVE-TIX for more information.
LOOKING AHEAD - After the weekend, the Waves will continue with two more exhibition matches against British Columbia on January 6 and 8 in Malibu. Pepperdine will then face-off against Concordia (California) in the team's last match before MPSF play begins. The first conference opposition will take place against Hawai'I on January 15 and 16 in Firestone Fieldhouse.
OPPONENT NOTES - Saskatchewan has been playing the 2015-16 season since October, and has since collected a 6-6 overall record, including a 1-5 road record so far this season. Jordan Nowakowski leads the team with 3.38 kills/set after amassing 142 kills and 51 errors in 275 attempts for a .331 hitting percentage so far this season. He also leads the team with 13 total service aces in 42 sets plays thus far. Tyler Epp leads the team with 51 total blocks, averaging 1.21 blocks/set, while also tabbing 1.98 kills/set for the Huskies. Troy Wiebe and CJ Gavlas lead in the playmaking duties. Wiebe has posted 202 total assists, averaging 10.10 on the season, while Gavlas has been good for 172 total assists and a 6.62 assists/set average. Matthew Erickson leads the team with 93 digs, posting 2.21 digs/set after 42 sets played for Saskatchewan as well.
2015 AWARDS - Graduates Josh Taylor and Matt West were named to the AVCA All-American First Team, and Parker Kalmbach earned second team honors. The Waves led the MPSF with six All-MPSF selections: Josh Taylor, Matt West and Parker Kalmbach were placed on the first team, while Matt Tarantino and Brennan Anderson snagged second-team acclaim, and Scott Rhein picked up an honorable mention. Off the Block blog announced Matt West as the co-winner of the Lloy Ball Award, along with USC's Micah Christianson, going to the top setter in the NCAA. Parker Kalmbach was a finalist for the Bryan Ivie Award (best opposite). Josh Taylor was a finalist for the Karch Kiraly Award (best outside hitter), with Penn State's Aaron Russell taking top honors.
VOLLEYBALL HISTORY - Pepperdine has won five NCAA men's volleyball championships, second only to UCLA. The Waves have won the MPSF Tournament three times and have won or shared 10 regular-season conference titles. Pepperdine has won either an MPSF regular-season or tournament title (or both) in six of the last 15 seasons. The Waves have finished in the top six in the final AVCA poll in 16 of the last 18 seasons. Pepperdine student-athletes have won national player of the year honors nine times and All-American accolades 81 times. A Pepperdine alum has competed for the U.S. at the Olympics every time since 1984 (Sean Rooney won gold in 2008).
Marv Dunphy - Now in his 33rd season as head coach of the Waves, Marv Dunphy has time and again proven himself to be one of the top teachers in the sport. He has directed Pepperdine to four NCAA championships, each in a different decade (1978, 1985, 1992, 2005). He was the 2005 National Coach of the Year and is a three-time MPSF Coach of the Year. He entered the 2016 season with a career record of 589-254 (.699). Dunphy has long been involved with USA Volleyball, having been part of the coaching staff at six Olympics, including head coach of the 1988 team and consultant coach for the 2008 squad, both of which won gold. Dunphy, along with David Hunt and Joe Trinsey, were on staff when the U.S. Women's National Team won their first-ever gold medal at a major event (including the Olympics), after winning the 2014 FIVB World Championships. He has been inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame (1994), AVCA Hall of Fame (2009) and the Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Fame (2010).
ABOUT PEPPERDINE - Pepperdine boasts a one-of-a-kind athletic department with unprecedented success for a school of its size. The Waves have won NCAA Division I Championships in five different men's sports — one of just 17 schools to have accomplished this feat — and nine overall. Of this elite group, Pepperdine has the smallest undergraduate enrollment, is the only school without football and is the only university that has not been affiliated with a "major" conference. The Waves have won a total of 25 team or individual national championships in their history. Pepperdine has also earned the Division I-AAA All-Sports Trophy, an award based on postseason success that's given to the top non-football school, three times (most recently in 2011-12). Located in scenic Malibu, Calif., the university overlooks the Pacific Ocean and its campus and athletic facilities are regularly voted among the nation's most beautiful. Pepperdine, which is affiliated with the Church of Christ, ranks No. 52 overall on U.S. News and World Report's list of America's best colleges.
