July 8, 2009

SAN BRUNO, Calif., - The women's volleyball match between Pepperdine University and San Diego will be televised live on ESPNU and will be moved to Wednesday, October 28, the conference office announced Tuesday.

The match, which begins at 8 p.m., features the two schools that have won the most WCC titles. Pepperdine has won a conference-leading 10, while San Diego has captured six, including winning the last three straight WCC crowns.

The Toreros are returning 10 players from last season's championship team including All-American and the 2008 WCC Player of the Year Amy Mahinalani DeGroot. Last season, DeGroot led the team with 392 kills (4.22 kps) and was second in digs with 231. USD also returns first-team All-WCC honoree and All-American candidate Ali Troost back after finishing 2008 with 221 kills, while hitting at a .291 clip. The Toreros have one more All-WCC performer returning in senior libero Andrea Csaszi, who led the team with 387 digs (4.16 dps) en route to an All-WCC honorable mention. Under the direction of the reigning WCC Coach of the Year Jennifer Petrie, the Toreros are locked loaded and ready to defend their WCC crown, aim for its fourth consecutive league title and make their ninth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Last season San Diego led five conference teams into the 2008 NCAA Tournament, the highest percentage of teams from any conference to make the tournament. Pepperdine finished last season in a tie for fourth and also made the tournament. As a result, the WCC finished with the fourth best conference RPI, just behind the Pac-10, Big 10, and Big 12 conferences.