MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine beach volleyball head coach Marcio Sicoli has announced the signing class of 2026, which is comprised of three members.
Leading off the incoming first-years is Piper Owen from Long Beach Calif. The 5'10 blocker is a product of Saint Joseph High School, who was named the Lakewood Hall of Fame Beach Player of the Year.
"I absolutely love the team, the coaches, and of course, the beautiful campus! I can't wait to be a part of it all and get a great education," said Owen.
Of her, head coach Sicoli said, "We are so blessed Piper chose Pepperdine to be her home in college. Piper will bring a bright and strong energy to our program on and off the court. Her versatility will be immediately noticeable, both as a blocker and defender. I look forward to improving her arsenal offensively and defensively at the net and the back court!"
The next high school addition is Makeely Rolles, a 5'8 defender from Honolulu, Hawaii. She attended the Punahou School, where she achieved success, finishing in the top ten in All-National play.
"The Malibu location is so beautiful, and being able to look out onto the ocean from almost every point on campus is just an instant serotonin boost," said Rolles. "The people in Malibu and at Pepperdine are all so nice and welcoming, and it feels like one big family!"
Sicoli said, "We are super stoked to keep the Pepperdine tradition of bringing the best players from Hawaii to Malibu. Since the days of summer camps, Makeely was a standout defender who impressed us with her read speed and the maturity of her game. I look forward to sharpening her defensive tools to help us bring home the WCC title in the coming years!"
Wynter Thorne-Thomsen rounds out the trio of future Waves. The 6'1 blocker is a Santa Barbara, Calif. native who attended Bishop Garcia Diego High School. She also competed as a member of the 805 Beach Volleyball Club.
She chose Pepperdine due to the tight-knit feel of both the team and the campus, as well as its idyllic location.
"I'm so happy Wynter decided to come to Pepperdine for her beach volleyball career! Wynter has an incredible ability for ball control and height at the net. I believe she will improve and impact our team with her competitiveness and all-around athleticism," Sicoli said.
With the upcoming departure of such a strong senior class, including Emma Bubelis, Julia Caruolo, Emi Erickson, and Gabriella Perez, the Waves' 2026 signees will position them well for the future.
ABOUT PEPPERDINE BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Established in 2011, Pepperdine beach volleyball quickly rose to national prominence, winning two national championships in three years (2012, 2014) while reaching the final four in five of its first six seasons. Joining the WCC ahead of the 2016 season, the Waves won the inaugural and first three WCC Championships while reaching eight straight conference championship games from 2016-24. The program has consistently recruited top talent in the sport, with 21 student-athletes garnering All-American honors since 2012.
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