MALIBU, Calif. — Head Coach Scott Wong announced the hiring of Hillary Hurley and Michael Wexter to the Pepperdine women's volleyball team's sidelines as assistant coaches.
 
Pepperdine amassed a 19-9 overall record and went 15-1 in West Coast Conference action last season to earn the program's 12^th conference title in program history and the first since 2011. 
 
HILLARY HURLEY
 
Hillary Hurley spent 10 years playing professionally with numerous top clubs throughout the world before joining the coaching ranks.  She most recently served as head coach of the women's volleyball program at West Virginia State, where she led the Yellow Jackets to an impressive 26-6 overall record and earned Mountain East Conference Coach of the Year acclaim.
 
"Hillary has an extensive playing resume that has matured her ability to see the game at a high level, but what is more impressive is her ability to bring her enthusiasm for volleyball to life when connecting with peers, players, and recruits," said Wong.  
 
Hurley coached WVSU to its third MEC South Division regular season title with 14-1 record in league action and to the finals of the conference tournament, which had been done only once before in school history.  The team then advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships – a feat that had been achieved four times in program history.  Four of her players earned All-MEC honors.
 
"I am so excited to join such an incredible program and university," said Hurley.  "The tradition of success that Scott has created with the women's volleyball program is something special, and I can't wait to get started! GO WAVES!"
 
Prior to joining the Yellow Jackets, Hurley served as an assistant coach at the University of Charleston, where she was an integral part of the coaching staff that led the Golden Eagles to a banner year in 2022.  With her guidance, the program hosted the MEC Tournament for the first time since joining the league in 2013 and a trip to the MEC Tournament finals for the first time since 2018.  The program went on to qualify for the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2007 and even win the first-round match for the first time since the 1998 campaign.
 
Prior to joining the sidelines, she spent 10 years as a professional volleyball in some of the most competitive leagues globally, making stops in Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Germany, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the Philippines.
 
Hurley was a two-sport athlete at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, competing in both volleyball and basketball.  She garnered All-PacWest first team honors in both sports – three in volleyball, two in basketball – and was a two-time AVCA All-American selection with a first team nod as a senior and second team nod as a junior.  As a senior, she earned Daktronics All-West Region first team honors and as a junior, she was named PacWest Player of the Year and earned Daktronics All-West Region second team honors.  She opened up her collegiate career with AVCA Pacific Region and PacWest Freshman of the Year accolades as well.
 
She graduated in 2011 from Hilo with a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology.  Hurley is married to Luke Reynolds, who also coaches collegiate volleyball on the men's side. 
 
MICHAEL WEXTER
 
Michael Wexter, an All-American and Pepperdine men's volleyball alumnus, was hired as an assistant coach to the Pepperdine women's volleyball coaching staff in February 2024.  While joining the women's side, Wexter also finished out a full 2024 spring season with the Waves' men's volleyball program.
 
"Michael is a perfect fit for our program as he deeply values relationships, knows how to coach the game at a high level, and is a tireless worker that will continue to pursue excellence in his coaching," said Wong.
 
He helped lead the men's program to a 17-11 overall record throughout the 2024 campaign.  The Waves finished in fifth-place in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation after compiling a 5-7 record against league competitors.  
 
"I am stoked that I can stay in Malibu and work for my Alma Mater and so grateful to the men's staff for letting me grow as a coach with them," said Wexter.  "Thank you to Scott for the opportunity to help continue what he has built with Pepperdine women's volleyball. Each day he creates a winning culture that is one of the best in the country and I am beyond excited that I get to be a part of such an awesome group."
 
Wexter graduated from Pepperdine in 2019 after a standout four seasons as an outside hitter and opposite for the Waves, including AVCA All-American honorable mention and Volleyball Magazine All-American second team honors in his senior campaign.  He was also an All-MPSF first team selection in 2019 and honorable mention in 2018.  Wexter appeared in 86 matches and 303 sets throughout four seasons with the blue and orange, marking 700 kills and averaging 2.31 kills/set on a .311 clip.  He also averaged 1.26 digs, 0.56 blocks and 0.23 aces per set.

Wexter had also competed as a member of the U.S. Men's Junior National Team from 2015 to 2020 prior to and during his time with the Waves.  After Pepperdine, he played professionally for Helios Grizzlys Giesen in Hildesheim, Germany.  Since then, he returned to the Southern California area, coaching for various club teams and ages, as well as working in sales development for Swell Energy and as a technical recruitment consultant with Piper Maddox.
 
Follow the Waves all season on social media @WavesVolleyball on Facebook and Twitter and @peppvolley on Instagram.