SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – LMU went undefeated in West Coast Conference matches this season, won its fourth straight WCC Championship last Friday in Santa Monica, Calif., and the Lions swept the 2023 WCC all-conference and major awards, as announced by the Conference on Tuesday. The Lions also placed a league-best seven student-athletes on 18 available spots between the first and second teams.
This is the second straight year LMU won at least a share of every major award and the third time in program history (2021). Pepperdine also accomplished this feat in 2018.
All-WCC First, Second and Freshman Team selections and major individual awards were selected solely by the seven conference head coaches. Due to a tie among voting for the second team, there are nine student-athletes on this year's all-conference second team.
LMU’s Melanie Paul had her named called twice for the Conference awards as both a member of the Pair of the Year with Valma Prihti and the Defensive Player of the Year. The tandem of Paul and Prihiti went 22-9 in 2023, all on the top court. The duo won their first two matches at last week's WCC Beach Volleyball Tournament before their match in the championship match went unfinished. Paul becomes the third Lion to win Defensive Player of the Year accolades after Reka Orsi Toth won the award last year.
John Mayer collected his fourth straight WCC Coach of the Year honor after leading the Lions back into the NCAA Championship as a No. 6 seed. LMU tied a program best with its AVCA national ranking of No. 5. LMU concluded the regular season with a record of 28-8, one win shy of last season's total, and enters NCAAs after only dropping one court during the WCC Beach Volleyball Tournament.
Chloe Hooker emerged as the Freshman of the Year after being a part of both of the WCC Pair of the Month duos for March and April. Hooker competed most often with Isabelle Reffel, the March Pair of the Month, as they went 15-6 on the year, including finishing 10-5 on the third court. Hooker also went 7-2 with partner Cassie Chinn on the fourth court, earning April Pair of the Month honors with her. Overall, Hooker was 23-9 this season.
Pepperdine garenred three Waves on the all-conference first team - Kate Clermont, Alexis McLeod and McKenna Thomas. The future looks bright for both LMU and Pepperdine as both programs placed three student-athletes each on the eight-member all-freshman team.
Paul and Julia Sangiacomo of Santa Clara picked up First Team accolades for the second straight season.
2023 WCC Coach of the Year
John Mayer, LMU
2023 WCC Pair of the Year
Melanie Paul and Valma Prihti, LMU
2023 WCC Defensive Player of the Year
Melanie Paul, LMU
2023 WCC Freshman of the Year
Chloe Hooker, LMU
2023 All-WCC Beach Volleyball First Team
Kate Clermont, Pepperdine
Hawley Harrer, Saint Mary's
Chloe Hooker, LMU
Alexis McLeod, Pepperdine
Melanie Paul, LMU
Valma Prihti, LMU
Isabelle Reffel, LMU
Julia Sangiacomo, Santa Clara
McKenna Thomas, Pepperdine
Abbey Thorup, LMU
2023 All-WCC Beach Volleyball Second Team
?Jordan Bennett, Santa Clara
Kristine Briede, Pepperdine
Karmin Brown, Saint Mary's
Madi Firnett, LMU
Jayde Harris, Portland
Daniella Kensinger, Saint Mary's
Madie Oriskovich, Pepperdine
Jacinda Ramirez, LMU
Nicole Robison, Santa Clara
2023 All-WCC Beach Volleyball Freshman Team
Gracey Campbell, Pepperdine
Ella Duffner, Santa Clara
Chloe Hooker, LMU
Daniella Kensinger, Saint Mary's
Gabriella Perez, Pepperdine
Savannah Standage, Pepperdine
Alisha Stevens, LMU
Isabelle Tucker, LMU