Beach Volleyball Opens Season in Malibu Saturday
2/23/2023 3:44:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball
MALIBU, Calif. – The #17 Pepperdine beach volleyball team will open the 2023 campaign by hosting #11 California and #14 Long Beach State at the Pepperdine Beach Volleyball Courts on Saturday.
DUAL 1: Saturday (February 25) in Malibu, Calif.: #17 Pepperdine (0-0) vs. #14 Long Beach State (0-0) at 9 a.m. PT.
DUAL 2: Saturday (February 25) in Malibu, Calif.: #17 Pepperdine (0-0) vs. #11 Cal (0-0) at 1 p.m. PT.
COVERAGE: Though home matches will have live scoring available throughout the season, due to impending inclement weather, any and all score updates will be made available on Twitter @WavesBeachVB. Additionally, go to PepperdineWaves.com for recaps, results, updates and more.
FAN ATTENDANCE & GUIDELINES: Attendance is free to spectators. Free parking is also available on the road next to the Marie Canyon Field, while the closest lot is the Roh parking lot. Please be prepared to walk up a small hill to the courts, though those in need may notify the Athletics' staff if there is need of assistance. Bleachers will be available, though lawn chairs, tents and umbrellas are welcomed, as long as no spectator's view is impaired.
LOOKING AHEAD: Next week, the Waves will remain in Malibu, hosting the Pepperdine ASICS Classic on March 4 against Concordia and Houston Christian. LMU will also play CUI and HCU, but the Waves and Lions will not face
WAVES WEATHER: There is an 87 percent chance of rain on Saturday, with a high of 44º degrees and winds blowing east to southeast at 10 to 15 miles per hour on the forecast.
WAVE REPORT: Pepperdine returns eight from the 2022 squad, including four starters. Of the familiar faces, the Waves welcome back juniors Kristine Briede, Gracie Pedersen and Jordan Benoit and sophomores Chase Curry, Juju Quintero, Kate Clermont, McKenna Thomas and Madison Oriskovich.
New faces will include graduate transfers Alexus McLeod (CSUN) and Jasmin Suarez (Saint Mary's), as well as Aubrey Roberts who previously played on Pepperdine's indoor women's volleyball team. This year's newest crop of freshmen includes Gracey Campbell, Emi Erickson, Mari Wright, Gabriella Perez and Savannah Standage
PRESEASON PROJECTIONS: Sophomores McKenna Thomas and Kate Clermont earned a spot on the All-West Coast Conference preseason team. Thomas went 26-7 in the No. 2 position for the Waves last season, while Clermont posted a 19-14 overall record, including a 7-3 output in the No. 5 position, 9-9 in the No. 4 position and 3-2 in the No. 3 position. The Waves were predicted to finish second in the league after the coaches had voted.
OPPONENT NOTES: Pepperdine holds an all-time record of 24-4 against Long Beach State, dating back to 2012 when the Waves won eight-straight matches through the 2013 season. The Waves went on another streak from 2016-19, winning nine-consecutive. The Waves won three from 2021-22, but Beach took a win in the final head-to-head last season. LBSU will have also played #4 USC and #6 Grand Canyon prior to coming to Malibu this weekend.
Cal has gone 2-1 against Pepperdine all-time, with the first match happening in 2019 and the Waves winning 4-1. The Bears took the two most recent wins, winning once in 2021 and again last season.
FOLLOW: Follow @WavesBeachVB on Facebook and Twitter for updates and check on PepperdineWaves.com for full results, recaps and more. Follow @peppbeachvolley on Instagram for an inside look at the Waves' team culture and check out @PepperdineWaves for the scoop on all the Waves' programs throughout the year.
