Rhein, Penning Named to MPSF All-Academic Team
5/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
2015 MPSF All-Academic Scholar-Athlete Team 
MALIBU, Calif. -- After a banner season that saw the Pepperdine men's volleyball team reach the MPSF Tournament finals, set a new program record for consecutive home victories and finish the season ranked #5 in the country, two Waves were recognized for their success in the classroom as well. Senior Scott Rhein and sophomore Mitchell Penning received MPSF All-Academic Scholar-Athlete notice, as announced today by the league office.
In order to be selected, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average, be at least a sophomore academically, have completed one full academic year at the institution prior to the season for which the award is being received and have competed in at least 50-percent of the season's matches.
Rhein (Pleasant View, Tenn./Aaron Academy) graduated just a few short weeks ago with a 3.10 GPA from Pepperdine's Seaver College with a degree in international business. Penning (St. Louis, Mo./Westminster Christian Academy) concluded his sophomore campaign with a 3.17 GPA as a religion major.
Rhein started in all 30 matches for the Waves in 2015, averaging 2.28 kills per set and picking up All-MPSF honorable mention distinction in the process. He earned his first-ever double-double with a career-high 15 kills and 16 digs in a five-set win over BYU on March 20.
The outside hitter was instrumental in Pepperdine's victory over UC Santa Barbara during the quarterfinals of the MPSF Tournament, laying down 12 kills while hitting .450 (12 kills-3 errors-20 attempts).
Penning had a breakout season for the Waves, going from a non-traveling member of the squad in 2014 to starting 26 matches and ranking ninth in the MPSF with 1.16 blocks per set in 2015. The middle blocker also contributed 1.33 kills on the offensive side.
Penning etched his name in the Pepperdine record book after charting 11 kills off of an .846 (11-0-13) hitting percentage vs. BYU (March 20). That clip ranks fourth all-time in the Waves' single-match history (rally-scoring era only).
Pepperdine finished the season with a 24-6 record after finishing third in the MPSF regular season standings, and marching all the way to the MPSF Tournament finals. It was the Waves' first appearance in the finals in seven years. The team also set a new record for consecutive home victories, piecing together 20 in a row between the 2014-15 seasons. Prior to that, the Waves won 19 consecutive matches inside Firestone Fieldhouse across the 2004-06 seasons.
Rhein has earned MPSF Scholar-Athlete distinction all three seasons, while Penning is making his first appearance on the list.
