MALIBU, CALIF. –
McKenna Thomas and
Kate Clermont of the Pepperdine beach volleyball team earned a spot on the All-West Coast Conference preseason squad, as announced the league office on Tuesday.
It is the first honor of its kind for the sophomores, though both garnered recognition on the WCC's All-Freshman team last season.
Thomas (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic HS) was named WCC Co-Freshman of the Year in 2022 as well, while earning the AVCA Top Flight award – an award given to recognize excellence in collegiate beach volleyball from all over the country and across all flights. To be eligible, the pair must win at least 75 percent of their matches. Last season, she saw action in 33 matches as a freshman, going 26-7 in the No. 2 position alongside partner
Simone Priebe. The pair impressed with a three-set win over #4 Florida State to help the Waves to a 3-2 upset over the Seminoles last season.
Clermont (Burlington, Ontario, Canada/Dr. Frank J. Hayden Secondary School) also played in all 33 matches during her premier campaign. She collected 19 wins overall, including a 7-3 record in the No. 5 position, 9-9 output in the No. 4 slot and a 3-2 record in the No. 3 position. She and partner
Mary Sinclair also stunned their FSU opponents with a three-set win on court four.
The Waves enter the season ranked #17 in the AVCA national coaches poll and picked to finish second in the WCC. Pepperdine earned one first-place vote and 31 points in the preseason voting, while PCH Cup rival LMU was predicted to win the league with six first-place votes and 36 points. Saint Mary's and Santa Clara are tied for third, while San Francisco, Portland and Pacific round out the poll in that order.
LMU had six student-athletes on the preseason team, while SMC and Santa Clara each tabbed one-apiece.
Pepperdine will open the 2023 season on Saturday, February 25 with a pair of matches against #14 Long Beach State and #11 Cal, playing on the Pepperdine Beach Volleyball Courts in Malibu.
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