Pepperdine Sand Volleyball Tops Early Season Poll

Pepperdine’s sand volleyball team is No. 1 on the AVCA preseason poll as the third season of collegiate sand volleyball looms.

The two-time AVCA National Championship Waves are the only team to hold the number one ranking in the poll. Hosting an all time record of 34-1 with Hall of Fame coach Nina Matthies at the helm, Pepperdine is looking to continue its impressive run since the inaugural season of 2012. 

AVCA All-Americans Caitlin Ranch and Lara Dykstra return along with Kelley Larsen and Kellie Woolever, who had a impressive 27-1 record as a duo in the 2013 season. 

With sand volleyball growing rapidly, more then 40 colleges are expected to field a team this year, which makes it the fastest-growing ‘Emerging Sport’ in NCAA history.

The Waves kick of the season at home this Saturday against Cal State Northridge and USC. Pepperdine faces Northridge at 10 a.m. then takes on the #2 Trojans at noon.