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2025 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

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The Pepperdine Athletics 2025 Hall of Fame class will be inducted in a ceremony that will take place on the evening of October 4, 2025, as part of Waves Weekend at Firestone Fieldhouse.

The inductees include five former student-athletes: Lynn Biyendolo (’15, women’s soccer), Stacy Davis (’16, men’s basketball), Mike Gates (’79, baseball), Kim Hill (’12, women’s volleyball) and Chip McCaw (’95, men’s volleyball). Additionally, the 2012 AVCA Sand Volleyball National Championship team, the late Pepperdine swimming and diving head coach Nick Rodionoff and alumni supporters Ted (’59, MBA ’75) and Carolyn (’57) Porter will be inducted into the hall of fame with Special Achievement Awards. Historically, Special Achievement Awards are given to those who have made exceptional contributions or provided extraordinary service to the athletic program at Pepperdine University.

Those interested in supporting the Hall of Fame through sponsorship, purchasing a table, or purchasing tickets may complete this form for first access.

The Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1980. This year’s group will join 140 individuals, 14 teams and eight special achievement award recipients that have already been enshrined.

 

To be eligible for induction, nominees must have competed, coached for, or rendered an extraordinary service to Pepperdine University Athletics. After compiling a list of nominations, Pepperdine’s Hall of Fame Committee selected this year’s inductees, which were endorsed by the Pepperdine Athletics Board. A list of Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Fame members can be found here. 

The 2025 Hall of Fame Class:

 












Name Sport Graduation Year Bio
Biyendolo HOF Lynn Biyendolo Women’s Soccer 2015

  • The first Pepperdine Wave to represent Team USA on the international stage, Lynn Biyendolo (née Williams) is among the most successful women’s soccer players in program history. Making an immediate impact for Pepperdine as a true freshman, Biyendolo was the 2011 WCC Freshman of the Year and eventually became a three-time All-West Region and WCC First Team selection throughout her highly decorated career. As a senior, Biyendolo put together an All-American season and helped the Waves reach the NCAA Round of 16 for just the third time in program history. She graduated from Pepperdine in 2015 as the program’s second-leading goal scorer and currently holds four individual top-10 program records.
  • Biyendolo was drafted by the Western New York Flash in the 2015 NWSL Draft, kicking off a long and successful professional career. During her 2016 season, Biyendolo won the NWSL Golden Boot and MVP awards en route to helping the Flash win the NWSL Championships. Biyendolo went on to win three more NWSL titles: back-to-back titles with the North Carolina Courage in 2018-19, and most recently with one with Gotham FC in 2023. She is currently a member of the Seattle Reign.
  • Biyendolo has found success on the international stage as well. In 75 matches for Team USA, Biyendolo scored 21 goals and tallied 13 assists. She helped the United States win the 2023 World Cup and is a two-time Olympic medalist. She most recently helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 2024 Olympics, where she scored a goal in group play versus Germany.

Davis HOF Stacy Davis Men’s Basketball 2016

  • Wrapped up one of the most decorated careers in Pepperdine men’s basketball history as the all-time leading scorer with 1,786 points and second all-time in rebounds with 994. He also finished among the program’s top 10 in 10 additional categories, including games played (125), minutes (3,939), and double-doubles (35), showcasing remarkable consistency and longevity.
  • Recognized as one of the conference’s elite players, he was a three-time All-WCC first team selection — the first Wave to do so since 1998 — and the first since 1994 to earn All-WCC honors in all four seasons. He also earned back-to-back NABC All-District 9 second team accolades for his standout performances.
  • Averaged 14.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game over four seasons, while becoming the first player in Pepperdine history to lead the team in rebounding each year. He became the seventh in program history to lead the team in both scoring and rebounding in consecutive seasons (2013-15). His impact was felt across the league as well, earning WCC Player of the Week honors four times during his career.

Gates HOF Mike Gates Baseball 1979

  • The star player on Pepperdine’s 1979 College World Series team, Mike Gates left a mark on the Pepperdine baseball program in two short years. Coming to Pepperdine after spending two years in junior college, Gates became the Waves’ starting second baseman in 1978 and put together one of the finest single seasons in program history as a senior.
  • Playing for eventual Pepperdine Hall of Famer Dave Gorrie, Gates led the team in batting average, runs, hits and home runs during what was the most successful season in school history. Gates was instrumental in helping Pepperdine win a school-record 53 games and led the Waves to their first-ever College World Series, where they finished third. That year, he was a first-team All-American, an ABCA first team selection and a first-team All-West Region and All-Southern California Baseball Association award winner. Gates made the All-CWS team for his postseason efforts.
  • Gates was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 7th round of the 1979 MLB Draft. He made his major-league debut for Montreal in 1981 and appeared in 37 games across two seasons.  He had a .236 batting average over 123 at-bats. 

Hill HOF Kim Hill Women’s Volleyball 2012

  • A two-time Olympian and three-time All-American, Kim Hill is one of the most successful women’s volleyball players in Pepperdine history. She was the first college volleyball player to earn AVCA All-American First Team honors in indoor and beach volleyball after helping Pepperdine win the 2012 AVCA National Championship.
  • Hill made an immediate impact as a true freshman by winning WCC Freshman of the Year honors and All-WCC First Team honors. Her best season came in 2011, when she was an AVCA First Team All-American and helped guide the Waves to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Volleyball Championships. Then, in the spring, Hill joined the Pepperdine sand volleyball team for its inaugural season and helped the Waves win the 2012 AVCA National Championship. All told, she was a three-time All-WCC First Team selection, a two-time AVCA All-Region award winner and graduated from Pepperdine ranked sixth with 1,300 career kills, plus ranked in the program’s top-10 in four other statistical categories. 
  • After enjoying a successful professional career overseas, Hill was persuaded by a family friend to participate in the 2013 Team USA Women’s Volleyball tryouts. Hill not only made the team but also earned a starting role right away. She played in 95 of a possible 118 sets during her rookie year on Team USA, then one year later, she was named the MVP at the 2014 FIVB World Championships after helping USA win gold. Hill’s meteoric rise in international play continued in 2016, as she earned a spot on the US Olympic team. A two-time Olympian, Hill won a bronze medal in 2016 and helped Team USA win the gold medal in 2020.

McCaw HOF Chip McCaw Men’s Volleyball 1995

  • A four-year starter at Pepperdine who never missed a match from 1992-95, Chip McCaw directed the Waves to the NCAA title as a freshman in 1992. He served as a volunteer assistant coach at Pepperdine during the 1997 season. During his six-year affiliation with the U.S. National team, McCaw competed at numerous international tournaments. He was an alternate for the 1996 U.S. Olympic team.
  • As a player, McCaw earned first-team All-American accolades from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and Volleyball Magazine as a junior in 1994. He was a third-team selection by Volleyball Magazine as a senior in 1995, and garnered honorable mention acclaim from the publication as a freshman and sophomore.
  • In his debut season, McCaw set a single-match school record with 117 assists in Pepperdine’s four-game victory over Long Beach State in the title match of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Tournament. McCaw was tabbed to the NCAA All-Tournament team, as Pepperdine swept Stanford in three games to claim the national title.
  • A first team All-MPSF selection in 1994 and a second team pick in 1993 and 1995, McCaw represented the U.S. at the 1992 World University Games in Buffalo, New York, and in 1995 in Fukuoka, Japan.

2012 Sand Volleyball HOF 2012 Sand

Volleyball Team 
Beach/Sand Volleyball Special Achievement Award Recipient

  • Led by legendary Pepperdine indoor volleyball head coach Nina Matthies, the 2012 Pepperdine sand volleyball team couldn’t have had a better inaugural season. The Waves went 14-0 and won the inaugural AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championship, becoming Pepperdine’s first women’s national championship-winning team.
  • Matthies was instrumental in establishing beach volleyball, then called sand volleyball (name officially changed prior to the 2016 season), as an NCAA Division I sport. Her efforts paid off. Bringing over nine players from the indoor volleyball team, the Waves adapted to the outdoor game with relative ease. The 2012 squad featured four All-Americans in Lilla Fredrick, Kim Hill, Caitlin Racich and Summer Ross — the latter of whom went on to win the AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championship pairs title one day after helping Pepperdine win the team title. With its loaded roster and experienced coach, it was unsurprising that the Waves went 11-0 in dual-match play.
  • The Waves arrived at the AVCA National Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala. as the team to beat. Pepperdine won all three of its matches convincingly, first by shutting out College of Charleston, and then by blanking Long Beach State 3-0 in the semifinals. Meeting Long Beach State in the championship match, Pepperdine blanked them again with a 5-0 sweep to win the national title.

Rodionoff HOF Nick Rodionoff Women’s Swimming & Diving Special Achievement Award Recipient

  •  An International Swimming and Diving Hall of Famer, Nick Rodionoff’s affiliation with Pepperdine spanned four decades. Rodionoff came to Pepperdine in 1974 to coach the men’s swimming and diving team, yet his biggest accomplishment came in 1987, when he established the women’s swimming and diving program. Despite being a new program, the Waves promptly went undefeated for five consecutive seasons.
  • As a head coach for the women’s team from 2000-2018, Rodionoff helped guide the Waves to 14 top-five team finishes at the Pacific Collegiate Swim and Dive Conference (PCSC) Championships — including a runner-up finish in 2008. Individually, Rodionoff was a two-time PCSC Coach of the Year recipient.
  • Yet one of Rodionoff’s greatest accomplishments was not winning an award. After the 2008 national recession forced Pepperdine to cut the women’s swimming and diving program, Rodionoff helped rescue the team he once founded. Thanks to rallying former alumni and donors, Rodionoff was instrumental in reinstating the program in 2009. Without his efforts, the program wouldn’t exist today. Individually, Rodionoff guided seven women to 12 conference titles and four to six NCAA Championship berths. 
  • Rodionoff passed away in 2023 and will be inducted into the Hall of Fame posthumously. His wife Carrie will accept the award on his behalf.

Porters HOF Ted & Carolyn Porter

Special Achievement Award Recipient

  • Longtime supporters of Pepperdine’s athletics programs, dedicated alumni Theodore “Ted” and Carolyn Porter have brought enthusiasm to the university’s athletic mission for decades. A former Pepperdine football defensive end, Ted and his wife, Carolyn met as students at the original George Pepperdine College campus and have remained committed to our Waves teams long after Ted’s graduation in 1959. Ted went on to earn his MBA from Pepperdine University in 1975.
  • Over the years, the Porters have encouraged Waves student-athletes in countless ways. Among their many contributions, Ted and Carolyn have graciously established the Porter Student-Athlete Fifth Year Scholarship to support student success and have invested in several of Pepperdine’s athletic teams. Ted has been a faithful member of the Athletics Board for many years, providing his wise counsel and strategic insight to the department’s leadership. The Porters are often regulars at Waves athletic events,  enjoying courtside seats at Pepperdine men’s basketball games in the Firestone Fieldhouse.
  • Blessed with sixty-seven years of marriage, Ted and Carolyn live in Rancho Palos Verdes, California and enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren. They are particularly proud of their granddaughter, Paige Porter (’25), who recently graduated from Seaver College with her bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and was a dedicated member of the Pepperdine cheer team.

 



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Indy volleyball coach in viral video charged after allegedly sexting a minor

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INDIANAPOLIS — A viral video has led to criminal charges against an Indianapolis volleyball coach accused of sending sexually explicit images to someone he believed was a 14-year-old boy.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced that Levi Garrett, 34, of Danville, faces attempted dissemination of matter harmful to minors, a Level 6 felony, following an independent investigation by the prosecutor’s office.

According to the probable cause affidavit, the charges stem from allegations that on March 2, 2025, Garrett engaged in explicit conversations and sent sexually graphic photos on the dating app Grindr to someone he believed was a minor.

A member of a private online investigative organization used a fake Grindr profile titled “tryna have fun” with a photo portraying themselves as a 14-year-old male named “Josh.” The decoy allegedly engaged with Garrett’s profile, “Hmu & find out.”

During the conversation, court documents show the minor texted Garrett, “U mind if I’m young,” and Garrett replied, “No I don’t mind.” When the decoy told Garrett, “I’m 14 but I down for whatever,” Garrett allegedly “liked” the message and proceeded to send three sexually explicit images, including photos of male genitalia and sexual activity.

The messages also allegedly included language about meeting for sex, with Garrett asking whether the encounter would be “safe or bareback.”

Court records show Garrett initially agreed to meet at a location in Greencastle but later blocked the account.

The case gained widespread attention in August when YouTuber JiDion, who is affiliated with the private investigative group, posted a 26-minute video titled “Volleyball Coach Gets EXPOSED” that has been viewed over 1.2 million times.

In the video, JiDion confronts Garrett at The Academy Volleyball Club located on East 30th Street, showing him screenshots of the alleged text exchanges and explicit photos.

Notably, the video showed several Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers at the scene during the confrontation. When JiDion urged them to arrest the coach, one officer stated, “I have run into this before. Our prosecutor will not touch this,” a response that was controversial to many of JiDion’s followers.

IMPD later responded to the backlash and clarified that the video lacked important context, noting that a police report was filed at the scene, Garrett was trespassed from the property, and detectives were informed about the allegations.

Following the viral incident, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office opened a formal investigation into the allegations.

“There are no shortcuts in the investigative process,” Mears said in a statement Monday. “When it comes to crimes against children, justice demands that an independent investigation occur and evidence be properly obtained, so that a case is built that will hold offenders accountable in a court of law.”

According to the affidavit, body camera footage from the incident shows Garrett identifying himself by name and providing his date of birth and phone number to officers, information that matched the Grindr profile under investigation.

Garrett is scheduled to appear for a change of plea hearing on January 27, 2026, at 9 a.m. in Marion County Superior Court.





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Volleyball Lands Four on CSC Academic All-District Team

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GREENWOOD, Ind. – College Sports Communicators (CSC) announced its annual All-District listing on Tuesday, including four Central Michigan Volleyball members.
 
To qualify, a student-athlete must hold a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.50, across both undergraduate and graduate courses, if applicable. Athletically, volleyball student-athletes must have either competed in 90% of their team’s contests for the season or started at least 66% of contests.
 
The list of honorees is below:
 
Senior Alina Anderson (Rockford, Mich. / Rockford / Ferris State)
Senior Abby Olin (Coopersville, Mich. / Coopersville / Michigan State)
Sophomore Izzy Swiercz (Hudsonville, Mich. / Hudsonville)
Sophomore Grace Thomas (Dublin, Ohio / Dublin Coffman)
 
Both Anderson and Olin earned the honor for the 2024 season.
 
For the latest news and updates on CMU Volleyball, follow the team in X (@cmuvolleyball) and on Instagram (@cmuvolleyball).
 



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Affidavit reveals AI-generated plan in alleged grooming case against Mesquite pastor’s son and volleyball coach

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An arrest affidavit obtained by CBS News Texas reveals more details about what led up to the arrest of a teacher and volleyball coach accused of grooming a teenage girl to have a sexual relationship with her, including the discovery of an AI-generated document outlining manipulation tactics.

Matthan Lough, 32, was arrested on Dec. 10 on a charge of child grooming, a third-degree felony. His father, Kevin Lough, was the senior pastor of the Christian Center of Mesquite, where some of the alleged grooming took place.

The victim and her mother filed a report with Mesquite police about Lough on Oct. 2. According to police, the victim’s mother found out about the relationship earlier that week.

Mesquite police: Grooming began more than two years ago

The affidavit outlines how the case began with an interaction at a party in the spring of 2023.

According to the affidavit, the victim met Lough at her cousin’s graduation party when he approached her while she was playing volleyball. The victim recognized Lough from church, as his wife was the worship leader for their youth group. Lough asked her if she would be interested in joining a club volleyball team he wanted to start at the church. 

It was not until the fall of 2024 that Lough held tryouts for the team, and the victim was given a spot, the affidavit said. The victim reported a series of unusual interactions with Lough over the following months in which he shared overly personal details about his life and marriage, then began to make flirty and inappropriate jokes, according to the report.

Lough’s inappropriate behavior escalated further over the summer of 2025, when he started sending the victim explicit messages and discussed committing murders, the affidavit said. Lough also repeatedly made sure the victim knew he was carrying a gun, making her fear for her safety.

In September, the affidavit describes the relationship turning physical. Lough allegedly kissed the victim at a church event. Later that month, he sexually assaulted her twice, the victim told police.

The relationship ended after the victim’s mother discovered the inappropriate messages on the victim’s devices. Her mother then contacted Lough’s wife.

Police said that after the victim filed the report, detectives obtained a search warrant and found an AI-generated document on Lough’s iPad titled “Hypothetical Counter-Influence Plan.” The document outlined phases such as “rebuild her autonomy” and “shift the power dynamic,” and provided guidance on how to achieve success.

Fallout from child grooming case

After the relationship was uncovered, police said Lough’s wife left Texas. Court records show she filed for divorce in October.

Lough’s father also resigned as senior pastor of the Christian Center of Mesquite. In a post on the church’s website, its board said the church would work to seek justice for the victim. It also said the church has “initiated an immediate internal review of all child protection policies, volunteer screening processes, and facility access logs to ensure the absolute safety of every child and youth within our care.”



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2025 NCAA women’s volleyball championship: How to watch, schedule

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Texas A&M shook up the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament when the No. 3 Aggies upset top-ranked and previously unbeaten Nebraska in their regional final. Now, the Aggies are headed to their first Final Four in program history.

No. 3 Wisconsin, which ousted Texas, another No. 1 seed, on its home court, and No. 1 seeds Kentucky and Pittsburgh join Texas A&M in the national semifinals, which take place Thursday at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Aggies will take on Pitt in one semifinal, while Wisconsin and Kentucky will face off in the other. Neither Texas A&M nor the Panthers have won a national championship, though Pitt will play in its fifth straight Final Four. Both Wisconsin (2021) and Kentucky (2020) have won one national title.

Here are key facts about the 2025 NCAA Division I women’s volleyball tournament:

What is the remaining schedule?

*All times Eastern

Thursday, Dec. 18

Semifinal: No. 3 Texas A&M vs. No. 1 Pittsburgh – 6:30 p.m. on ESPN

“NCAA Women’s Volleyball Studio Show” – 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Semifinal: No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 1 Kentucky – 9 p.m. on ESPN

Sunday, Dec. 21

“NCAA Women’s Volleyball Preview Show” – 3 p.m. on ABC

Championship – 3:30 p.m. on ABC

How can fans watch?

Fans can catch all of the action in the ESPN App and in the NCAA women’s volleyball streaming hub.

How can fans access more college sports coverage from ESPN?

Check out the ESPN college sports hub page for the latest news, scores, rankings and more.



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Three Clarkson Volleyball Players Named to CSC Academic All-District List

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Seniors Ashley Currier and Marin Hangliter as well as sophomore Olivia Baxter of the Clarkson University Volleyball team have been named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Volleyball team. 

The 2025 Academic All-District® Volleyball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. To be eligible, student-athletes need to be of sophomore standing both athletically and academically, hold a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 or better, and have participated in 90% of sets or have started at least two-thirds of their respective team’s matches. 

Baxter, a sophomore majoring in Chemical Engineering, was a Liberty League Second-Team All-Star thanks to her excellence in the back row. Baxter ranked 22nd nationally in digs per set (5.40 dps) and was 57th nationally in aces per set (0.63 aps).

Currier, a senior majoring in Mechanical Engineering, continued to be relied upon in a variety of roles for the Knights, averaging 7.09 assists, 0.95 kills, 2.50 digs, and 0.61 blocks per set. In a match against University of Rochester she nearly posted an incredibly rare feat, coming up just one kill short of a quadruple double (31 assists, 16 digs, 10 blocks, and 9 kills). 

Hangliter, a senior majoring in Environmental Engineering, finished the season averaging 2.62 kills per set, which ranked second on the team. She also was second in the Liberty League in aces per set with 0.64, which placed her 49th nationally in that category.  



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Three Tennessee Volleyball Players Earn CSC Academic All-District Honors

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Three Tennessee volleyball student-athletes College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team, as announced on Tuesday. Caroline Kerr makes the list for the second consecutive year, while Hayden Kubik and Gülce Güçtekin make the list for the first time in their careers.

This marks the first time in program history that three Lady Vols have been named to the Academic All-District Team. In Eve Rackham Watt‘s eight years as head coach, eight total players have earned Academic All-District honors. Tennessee has had two or more players selected to the All-District team now in three seasons, all coming under Rackham Watt.

CSC’s Academic All-America program recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. Both Kerr and Kubik earned spots on the CSC Academic All-America ballot, which will be announced on January 13, 2026.

Compiling a 3.87 GPA in the Sport Management program, Kerr garnered First Team All-SEC honors after leading the team with 945 assists. Kerr was a key force for a Tennessee attack that finished the season top 15 in both hitting percentage and kills per set. Kerr had 20 matches with 30 or more assists, including tying her career high with 57 against Florida on Oct. 15. 

One of the top setters in Tennessee history, Kerr currently ranks sixth all-time in both assists (3,259) and assists per set (10.65). The two-time All-American setter has led the team in assists in each of the last three seasons, eclipsing the 1,000-assist mark in both 2023 & 2024.

Earning her bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies, Kubik had her best offensive season of her career in her final collegiate season. Kubik led the team in kills (390), kills per set (4.19), points (431.0), and points per set (4.63) this season. She had double-digit kills in 24 matches, reaching 20 or more on four occasions.

Kubik also ranked top ten in the conference in both kills per set and points per set in 2025. A stellar defender in the back row, Kubik finished third on the team with 209 digs. The First Team All-SEC selection had seven double-doubles on the campaign, all of which came against conference opponents.

Boasting a 4.00 GPA in Communication Studies, Güçtekin became an important piece to Tennessee’s defensive success. The senior libero  led the team in 2025 with 408 digs. Güçtekin finished the season ranking top five in the SEC in both digs and digs per set. She recorded double figure digs in 23 matches, including having 20 or more in six. She set a career-high of 30 digs at Kentucky on Nov. 9, becoming the first Tennessee player to reach 30 or more digs since Yelianoz Torres had 30 against Arkansas on Oct. 20, 2023.

Güçtekin eclipsed 1,000 digs in her career this season, and finishes her collegiate career with 1,293 digs. An all-around player in college, Güçtekin also finished with 423 assists and 117 aces.



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