For the past 31 years, Pepperdine women’s volleyball was synonymous with one name: Nina Matthies.
The legendary coach led the Waves to 11 West Coast Conference titles while compiling a career record of 590- 343 (.632) and a conference record of 320-90 (.780). Eleven months ago she announced her retirement from indoor volleyball to focus on sand volleyball at Pepperdine.
Now in its 40th season, women’s volleyball turns to alum Troy Tanner to take over the reigns as head coach. Tanner brings an impressive resume, having won two national titles with the Pepperdine men’s volleyball program in 1985 and 1986 and being named a three-time NCAA All-American.
In addition, Tanner won a gold medal at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea, as part of the U.S. Men’s National team and was an assistant coach for the Brigham Young University men’s volleyball team, which won NCAA championships in 1999 and 2001.
The mild-mannered Tanner is embracing his new role as coach of the proud Waves program.
“Since I started coaching 20 years ago, this is where I wanted to come,” Tanner said. “This has been something in my mind forever. I want to be around people that I care for and a school [that] has been really good to me.”
Pepperdine returns eight players and five starters from last year’s team that concluded the Matthies era with a 15-11 record. Thus far, the Waves are 7-10 overall and 2-3 in conference play.
“We are getting better every week. There’s been growth and that is what I am focusing on,” Tanner said. “It’s been positive for the staff and players as well. If we keep improving and competing, then we will have a successful season.”
The Waves spent the entire month of September on the road, going 4-7. With a team that features only three seniors and six newcomers, being away from home enabled the Waves to come together and grow as a unit.
“We had an up and down preseason but we are starting to steady out,” senior outside hitter Katie Messing said. “We are getting to know each other and I think it’s going to be up from here.”
Pepperdine returned home last week to play No. 10 BYU in a nationally televised match on ESPNU. Despite their best efforts, the Waves lost to the Cougars 25-17, 25-21, 25-20.
BYU was led by 6-foot-7 volleyball/ basketball star Jennifer Hamson, who had 12 kills and three blocks.
Messing, a 2013 All-WCC honorable mention, recorded a match-high 15 kills on a .256 hitting percentage.
“I thought we gave a good effort,” Messing said. “We have a very tough conference this year, which we are excited about. The West Coast Conference has been growing ever since it started.”
Junior setter Becca Strehlow, an AVCA indoor All-American honorable mention in 2013 and a first-team All- American in sand volleyball last spring, currently leads Pepperdine in assists with 419 and digs with 232.
“This team is going a great job. We are learning under a new coach with a lot of new people who are playing on the court this year,” Strehlow said. “We are getting so much better and I am proud of us for that. We are giving good teams like BYU a run for their money.”
Senior middle blocker Samantha Cash, an All-WCC first team selection a year ago, has 62 blocks so far as she continues to climb the Pepperdine record charts. She is tied for third place all-time in program history with 392 blocks.
Sophomore outside hitters Jillian Bergeson and Gaby Palmeri are off to strong starts as well, leading the Waves in kills with 181 and 177, respectively.
Pepperdine begins a set of three home matches in a row starting on Saturday against rival Loyola Marymount at 1 p.m. inside the friendly confines of Firestone Fieldhouse.
“I am so sick of airports,” Strehlow said after the BYU match. “It’s nice to be back home and seeing orange in the stands.”