We're counting down to the start of the 2017 NCAA beach volleyball season by previewing one of the nation's top programs every day leading up to opening weekend.

So far, we've highlighted Loyola Marymount, Georgia State, and Louisiana State, Long Beach State, Arizona, Hawaii, Florida State, and UCLA. Today, find out what you need to know about the Pepperdine Waves. 

In Short

Only senior Delaney Knudsen remains from the 2014 Pepperdine squad that won the AVCA Collegiate Beach National Championship, but every year, the Waves find a way to reload and be one of the best teams in the country. Don't expect 2017 to be any different.

Last Season

20-5 overall
West Coast Conference Champion
Fifth in Final 2016 AVCA Poll

The Players

Returning Stars

Delaney Knudsen | 5-foot-10 | Senior | Valencia, California
Corinne Quiggle | 5-10 | Junior | Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Heidi Dyer | 6-2 | Sophomore | San Clemente, California
Skylar Caputo | 5-10 | Sophomore | Manhattan Beach, California
Madalyn Roh | 5-11 | Sophomore | Scottsdale, Arizona
Kaity Bailey | 6-2 | Sophomore | Ojai, California
Anika Wilson | 5-9 | Sophomore | Santa Barbara, California

Key Newcomers

Gigi Hernandez | 5-10 | Freshman | Dana Point, California
Tiffany Morales | 5-6 | Grad Student | Hermosa Beach, California | Michigan Transfer
Brittany Howard | 6-3 | Grad Student | Mountain View, California | Stanford Transfer
Katty Workman | 6-0 | Grad Student | Thousand Oaks, California | Boston College Transfer
Deahna Kraft | 6-0 | Freshman | Seattle, Washington
Jordan Ferrari | 6-1 | Freshman | Mission Viejo, California
Maddi Dilfer | 5-11 | Junior | Saratoga, California | Notre Dame Transfer

Biggest Losses

Taylor Racich | 6-1 | Santa Barbara, California
Sophie Asprey | 5-7 | Southlake, Texas
Samantha Cash | 6-3 | San Diego, California

Opening Weekend Matches

March 4

10 AM PT vs. UCLA
12:30 PM PT vs. USC

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Overview

With legendary beach volleyball player and sixth-year head coach Nina Matthies at the helm and Marcio Sicoli, coach of Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross, at her side, Pepperdine's beach volleyball team is sure to be dangerous yet again.

Returning sophomore and preseason All-WCC selection Heidi Dyer went 16-8 at the No. 1 spot with graduated senior Taylor Racich in 2016. This year, perhaps one of her fellow preseason All-WCC teammates Delaney Knudsen, Corinne Quiggle, Skylar Caputo, or Madalyn Roh will step up to fill that gap, or maybe one of the Waves' three freshmen will earn the spot.

Also joining the 2017 Waves squad are three transfers from elite indoor backgrounds. Brittany Howard comes to Malibu, CA, after completing her undergraduate career at Stanford, where the 6-3 outside hitter played four seasons of indoor volleyball, earning All-American honors in 2014, and three seasons of beach. Tiffany Morales was a four-year starting libero at Michigan, but as a member of the USA Beach Volleyball High Performance pipeline, the Hermosa Beach native has plenty of beach volleyball experience. Maddie Dilfer transferred from Notre Dame before the 2016 fall season, and she started in six matches as setter for the Waves' indoor squad.

Pepperdine was picked as the top team in the WCC preseason poll and ranked fourth in the nation in the AVCA preseason poll. The Waves are opening the season by hosting UCLA and USC at Zuma Beach, in what is probably the most competitive opening weekend competition in the country. Tune in to watch all three matches live, exclusively on FloVolleyball.