MALIBU, Calif. — Pepperdine women's volleyball's West Coast Conference title defense begins now.
Earning eight out of 11 first-place votes, the Waves were picked atop the WCC Volleyball Preseason Coaches poll, which was announced Friday. The defending conference champions also had three players make the 2024 WCC Preseason Team: senior Grace Chillingworth, plus graduate students Birdie Hendrickson and Riley Simpson.
San Diego was picked second in the polls and received two first-place votes, while LMU was slotted third and received one first-place vote. Rounding out the top half of the poll, WCC newcomer Oregon State and Pacific tied for fourth, while WCC newcomer Washington State was picked to finish sixth.
Individually, Pepperdine's three all-preseason team selections were tied for the most of any team (LMU was the other).
The reigning WCC Player of the Year, Chillingworth's selection on the WCC Preseason Team comes as no surprise. Last year, the senior opposite hitter from Tustin, Calif. had an impressive campaign, earning AVCA All-American and AVCA All-Pacific South Region honors, plus four WCC offensive player of the week awards. She led the league by averaging 3.78 kills per set last season — which was good for 64th in the nation — while also recording seven double-doubles and 22 matches with double-figure kills.
Coming off the best season of her collegiate career, Hendrickson notched 264 kills and averaged 2.84 kills per set, both of which ranked second on the team. In her first year in Malibu, the outside hitter from Rogersville, Mo. was one of the most effective hitters in the conference, ranking 10th in the conference at 2.84 kills per set en route to becoming a first-team All-WCC selection.
Joining Pepperdine after spending three years at Baylor, Simpson tallied 156 kills and averaged 2.56 kills per set for the Bears last season. Playing in a larger role in 2023, Simpson also set her career-high with 17 kills against UCF and appeared in 61 sets; all told, the 6-foot-3 opposite hitter tallied 299 kills, 87 digs and 46.0 total blocks in 160 sets as a Bear.
This year, the Waves are aiming for their fifth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance under Head Coach Scott Wong. The team officially opens the season against USC at home on Friday, Aug. 30. Season tickets are available for all fall sports, including women's volleyball. Additionally, Pepperdine is offering a Fall All-Sport Pass, which grants admission to all fall home sports including women's soccer, women's volleyball and men's water polo — a $525 retail value for just $150. Learn more and access those exclusive season ticket offers here: gowav.es/peppszntix2425
2024 WCC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (first-place votes) - points
1. Pepperdine (8) - 98
2. San Diego (2) - 87
3. LMU (1) - 80
T-4. Oregon State - 70
T-4. Pacific - 70
6. Washington State - 53
7. Saint Mary's - 44
8. Santa Clara - 36
9. San Francisco - 33
10. Portland - 23
11. Gonzaga - 11
2024 WCC Volleyball Preseason Team
Genevieve Bane, Saint Mary's
Nemo Beach, San Diego
Grace Chillingworth, Pepperdine
Alexa Edwards, Pacific
Sam Hastings, LMU
Jenna Heller, Pacific
Birdie Hendrickson, Pepperdine
Annika Hester, Oregon State
Sophia Meyers, LMU
Elena Radeff, Santa Clara
Maui Robins, Portland
Lauren Rumel, Oregon State
Katy Ryan, Washington State
Mia Schafer, LMU
Riley Simpson, Pepperdine
Haylee Stoner, San Diego
