Pepperdine names former All-MPSF middle as new assistant coach

A former All-MPSF middle attacker will return to Pepperdine as part of the team’s coaching staff.

Coach David Hunt announced earlier this week that he hired Matthew Pollock to be an assistant coach for the defending MPSF champions.

“It’s great to have Matt back at Pepperdine,” Hunt said in a statement. “He just finished a long professional career and he has valuable information to share with our young athletes. Matt cares about teaching young people and will help them achieve their goals in the sport.”

The relationship between Hunt and Pollock stretches almost a decade. Hunt served as an assistant coach with Waves under Hall of Fame coach Marv Dunphy while Pollock played on the team.

Pollock in his four-year college career finished with a 1.05 blocks per game average and a .435 attack percentage, including hitting more than .400 in each of his final two seasons. As a senior in 2012, he was an All-MPSF honorable mention and hit .443 — the fourth-highest single-season attack percentage in Pepperdine program history.

The middle attacker following his graduation began a professional career in Europe that was highlighted by helping Roma Scarabeo win the Italian Cup in 2018. In addition, Pollock was selected to play for the United States in the Pan American Cup last year.

“I’m excited to be back with a good group of young Waves,” Pollock said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to seeing the growth of this team as we work together every day. David is the hardest-working volleyball coach there is. It’s going to be awesome working with him. With his knowledge of the game, he’s up there with the best. Obviously, it’s also great to still have Marv here and it’s going to be a great benefit to me as a young coach to see him around the office.”

Pepperdine finished last season winning its first MPSF championship in more than a decade and advanced to the NCAA Tournament semifinals. The Waves next season will have to replace three graduated All-MPSF pin-hitters but return setter Robert Mullahey, who was an All-MPSF honorable mention.