SPORTSCOPE : Pepperdine and UCLA Meet in NCAA Volleyball Playoffs

The UCLA women’s volleyball team, defending NCAA champion and ranked fifth nationally by the American Volleyball Coaches Assn., will play host to No. 16 Pepperdine (23-7) in the first round of the NCAA playoffs at 7 p.m. Friday at the John Wooden Center.

UCLA (26-5) has advanced to the playoffs in each of the 10 years that women’s volleyball has been recognized as an NCAA sport. The Bruins have won two NCAA titles, placed second twice and third twice.

Pepperdine, which has won five consecutive West Coast Conference championships, is making its ninth playoff appearance.

In the only competition between the teams this season, UCLA won, 15-4, 15-13, and 15-10.

The Pepperdine women’s basketball team will be idle because of final examinations this week. The Waves’ next game is Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Cal State Fullerton.

Last week Pepperdine (2-1) defeated UC Irvine, 78-61, and Cal State Dominguez Hills, 71-47. Forward Shannon Frowiss leads the Waves with averages of 10 points and seven rebounds a game.

Pepperdine senior setter Carolyn Hueth was named the West Coast Conference women’s volleyball player of the year, and Wave Coach Nina Matthies was selected WCC co-coach of the year with Laurie Corbelli of Santa Clara.

Pepperdine first-team, all-conference selections were senior middle blocker Lesli Asplund and junior middle blocker Debbie Merandi. Pepperdine players who made the second team were senior outside hitter Cari Delson and junior outside hitter Blair Noonan.

Oliver Will and goalkeeper Dan Hackett, seniors on the UCLA water polo team, were voted to the All-Pacific 10 Conference team.

Pepperdine senior water polo player Geoffrey Clark was named the Big West Conference player of the year for the third consecutive year.

First team all-conference selections from Pepperdine were juniors Henry Rabello and goalie Peter Schuler. Other Waves honored were sophomore Zach Holder, who made the second team, and junior Alex Asta, who was an honorable-mention selection.

The Southern California Tennis Assn. will hold a free informational meeting on college scholarships for high school players at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Los Angeles Tennis Center on the UCLA campus. Information: (310) 208-3838.

Kirk Alexander, a veteran member of the Venice High School coaching staff and a former star athlete at the school, has been named co-coach along with Tony Chretin of the Venice football team. Alexander succeeds Al Dellinger, who retired from coaching.