Delaney Mewhirter rejoined the Pepperdine beach volleyball sidelines as an assistant coach in August 2021.
Mewhirter (née Knudsen) brings a wealth of knowledge to the program, both as a former collegiate student-athlete at Pepperdine and currently as a professional competing at the highest level of physical and mental performance. Since 2019, she has been competing in the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) while living and training in Hermosa Beach, Calif. An excellent competitor all-around, Mewhirter has earned top-10 finishes as both a blocker and a defender throughout her career. Along with her high-level performances, Mewhirter has committed to managing practices and strength training schedules and maintaining sponsor relationships.
Mewhirter played for Pepperdine from 2014-17, she earned AVCA and Volleyball Magazine All-American honors after the Waves’ NCAA Championship runner-up finish in 2017 and was a part of the AVCA National Championship winning team in 2014 as a freshman. She was an All-WCC first teamer in 2016 and 2017 and throughout her career marked an 81-31 overall record for a .723 winning percentage. Her career wins currently ranks 6th in the Pepperdine beach volleyball record books. She saw action on courts one through four throughout her time in the navy and orange, notably collecting 20-12, 23-7 and 26-5 in the No. 1, 2 and 3 positions respectively. White at Pepperdine, Mewhirter was also a Team Captain for two seasons and served on the Waves Leadership Council.
After her graduation from Pepperdine in 2017, Mewhirter had quickly joined the Waves’ beach volleyball sidelines, serving alongside former head coach Nina Matthies and current head coach Marcio Sicoli from then until June 2020. She also coached indoor and beach volleyball for Oaks Volleyball Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif. during that time.
From 2018 to 2020, she served as an Administrative Assistant and Tournament Directory for p1440 in El Segundo, Calif., managing communications across the beach volleyball development program, coordinating a player evaluation system for the distribution of sponsorship funds and organizing and directing monthly tournaments.
Apart from her numerous coaching and professional jobs, Mewhirter has put an effort in the areas of skill development and leadership, serving as a Member of the Junior National Beach Volleyball A1 Team since 2011, training with internationally experienced coaches and representing the USA at both the U19 and U21 World Championships. She was a Youth Group Advisor for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Malibu, Calif. for six years beginning in 2015, teaching Sunday school lessons and overseeing progress on spiritual development projects.
As if playing for high school and collegiate volleyball teams wasn’t busy enough, Mewhirter also earned her private license as a single-engine aircraft pilot at the California Flight School in Van Nuys, Calif. in 2014.
