Pepperdine indoor head coach Scott Wong added a fourth newcomer to his squad as Blossom Sato made the transfer back to her home state of California from Mississippi State. She has played two seasons and will have two years of eligibility remaining.
The 5-8 setter from Santa Monica, Calif. was the starting setter both seasons at Mississippi State where she left a mark on the program ranking seventh all-time in assists with 1,840. Last season she had a career high of 58 assists against Arkansas and picked up 16 digs when they played Auburn. For her career, she has had 11 double-doubles to go along with 362 digs, 30 aces, and 41 blocks.
Sato played all four seasons of her high school career at Santa Monica High School under her mother and coach Liane Sato. She accumulated many accolades such as AVCA High School All-American, CIF Southern Section First Team (3x), Ocean League Most Valuable Player (2x), and Ocean League Most Outstanding Player while being named her school’s honor roll all four years.
Volleyball runs in the family as not only was her mother her coach but was a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team that won bronze medals in 1988 and 1992. She has uncles Eric and Gary who were both members of the U.S. Men’s National Team as well. Gary did coach for the U.S. Men’s National team for various years of his life but is currently a member of the coaching staff for the USC men’s volleyball. Other relatives include cousins Andrew who recently graduated from Long Beach State and went to the back-to-back NCAA Men’s Volleyball Semifinals, Katie who plays libero for CSUN, and Malia who will play at USC this fall.
Blossom joins a Pepperdine team that returns 11 letterwinners and went 13-17 overall. She will be the teams only full-time setter as she works with setter/opposite duo Heidi Dyer and Jenna Tunnell.
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