Photo by: Mia Pleasant
Erickson and Merlini Net WCC Beach Volleyball Pair of the Week Honors
4/13/2026 2:00:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball
SAN BRUNO, Calif. — Pepperdine beach volleyball athletes Emi Erickson and Ginevra Merlini have been awarded the West Coast Conference's (WCC) Pair of the Week award following their four straight set victories this weekend.
"This is a long overdue award for this pair," head coach Marcio Sicoli said. "Emi and Ginevra have been a really rock solid team for us. I'm excited and happy they've received these honors and I look forward to more awards coming to Pepperdine as we round out the season."
Erickson and Merlini started the Waves Tourney in the fourth flight, before moving up to the third pairing on the second day.Â
Concordia was their first test Friday morning. The first rally was a hard-fought duel that saw the Waves come out on top 23-21. Merlini and Erickson secured the point, 21-17 in the second.
Their first of two matches against San Francisco saw them take down their opponents 21-11 and 21-14.
Saturday the pair faced a different pair from the Dons, but the result was the same. The two clinched the overall victory for their team through their 21-17 and 21-16 wins.
Vanguard was their final test Saturday afternoon. They ended their weekend with a couple of 21-12 results against the Lions.Â
This is both Erickson's and Merlini's first weekly award of their collegiate career. Erickson, a fourth-year from Honolulu, Hawaii, was celebrated (alongside five others) Saturday for the team's Senior Day. Merlini is a freshman from San Donà di Piave, Italy.Â
The two have played each match this season with each other, posting a 23-11 overall record. Primarily appearing in the fours (19-6), they have had spot starts in the third flight (4-4).
It is Pepperdine's first conference honor this season.
2026 WCC Beach Volleyball Pairs of the Week
February 23: Ines Piret and Magdalena Rabitsch, LMU
March 2: Ellie Davis and Katie McAlister, LMU
March 9: Ciara Cantlen and Alexandra Urbina, Santa Clara
March 16: Ellie Davis and Katie McAlister, LMU
March 23: Hannah Glick and Barett Nolan, Saint Mary's
March 30: Maja Kruczek and Josefine Schaekel, LMU
April 6: Chloe Hooker and Ines Piret, LMU
April 13: Emi Erickson and Ginevra Merlini, Pepperdine
The award-winners, along with the rest of their team, are back in action Friday and Saturday. They travel to the Bay for tests against No. 9 Cal, San José State, No. 6 Cal Poly, and at No. 1 Stanford.Â
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 with the sport becoming NCAA-sanctioned, 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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FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine beach volleyball, follow the Waves on social media @PepperdineBVB.
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"This is a long overdue award for this pair," head coach Marcio Sicoli said. "Emi and Ginevra have been a really rock solid team for us. I'm excited and happy they've received these honors and I look forward to more awards coming to Pepperdine as we round out the season."
Erickson and Merlini started the Waves Tourney in the fourth flight, before moving up to the third pairing on the second day.Â
Concordia was their first test Friday morning. The first rally was a hard-fought duel that saw the Waves come out on top 23-21. Merlini and Erickson secured the point, 21-17 in the second.
Their first of two matches against San Francisco saw them take down their opponents 21-11 and 21-14.
Saturday the pair faced a different pair from the Dons, but the result was the same. The two clinched the overall victory for their team through their 21-17 and 21-16 wins.
Vanguard was their final test Saturday afternoon. They ended their weekend with a couple of 21-12 results against the Lions.Â
This is both Erickson's and Merlini's first weekly award of their collegiate career. Erickson, a fourth-year from Honolulu, Hawaii, was celebrated (alongside five others) Saturday for the team's Senior Day. Merlini is a freshman from San Donà di Piave, Italy.Â
The two have played each match this season with each other, posting a 23-11 overall record. Primarily appearing in the fours (19-6), they have had spot starts in the third flight (4-4).
It is Pepperdine's first conference honor this season.
2026 WCC Beach Volleyball Pairs of the Week
February 23: Ines Piret and Magdalena Rabitsch, LMU
March 2: Ellie Davis and Katie McAlister, LMU
March 9: Ciara Cantlen and Alexandra Urbina, Santa Clara
March 16: Ellie Davis and Katie McAlister, LMU
March 23: Hannah Glick and Barett Nolan, Saint Mary's
March 30: Maja Kruczek and Josefine Schaekel, LMU
April 6: Chloe Hooker and Ines Piret, LMU
April 13: Emi Erickson and Ginevra Merlini, Pepperdine
The award-winners, along with the rest of their team, are back in action Friday and Saturday. They travel to the Bay for tests against No. 9 Cal, San José State, No. 6 Cal Poly, and at No. 1 Stanford.Â
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 with the sport becoming NCAA-sanctioned, 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.
Â
FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine beach volleyball, follow the Waves on social media @PepperdineBVB.
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Players Mentioned
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
