Courtesy: Pepperdine Athletics
MALIBU, Calif. – Olympians, All-Americans and the “First Family” of Pepperdine will be inducted into the Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Fame this fall, as the department announced the honorees that will make up the class of 2018 today.
The inductees will include four former student-athletes: Julie Evans (women’s volleyball), Carolina Llano (women’s golf), Matt Rigg (men’s volleyball) and Marilyn White (women’s track). Pepperdine President Andrew Benton and his wife Debby Benton will also be feted in the special achievement category.
Additionally, women’s basketball alum Miranda Ayim was voted into the Hall of Fame, but because of professional commitments, her induction will take place in a future year.
The ceremony will be held on Sunday, October 14, in Firestone Fieldhouse. Check-in and a reception will begin at 5:15 p.m., with dinner and the awards presentation at 6 p.m. Tickets are $60 per plate and can be purchased online.
“The Hall of Fame ceremony is one of the events we look forward to most every year,” said Pepperdine Director of Athletics Dr. Steve Potts. “These impressive individuals who competed for Pepperdine contributed so much to our department and their teams’ legacies. We also have the opportunity to thank Andy and Debby Benton for their leadership and support of the department over many decades.”
The Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1980. This year’s group will join 125 individuals, 14 teams and eight special achievement recipients that have already been enshrined.
To be eligible for induction, nominees must have competed, coached for or rendered an extraordinary service to Pepperdine University Athletics. After a list of nominations was gathered, Pepperdine’s Hall of Fame Committee made the decision on this year’s inductees.
Here is more information on the newest Pepperdine Hall of Famers:
Miranda Ayim, Women’s Basketball
Played four seasons (2006-07 through 2009-10) … A forward/center from London, Ontario, Canada … Three-time All-WCC first team (2008, 2009, 2010) … 2010 WCC All-Tournament team … Had 1,377 career points and 735 rebounds (Pepperdine top 10 in program history in both) … Holds school records for blocked shots in career (182) and season (85, 2010) … Led team in rebounding three times and scoring twice … Waves made the final of the 2010 WCC Tournament and played in the WNIT that year … 2010 Division I-AAA ADA Scholar-Athlete of the Year … Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District … Three-time WCC All-Academic … Two-time Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar … Two-time Olympian with Canada … Played briefly in WNBA (three games in 2011) and is playing overseas in France.
Andrew and Debby Benton, Special Achievement
Andrew Benton has been the President of Pepperdine University since 2000 … He has made the decision to step down in July of 2019 after 19 years of service as president … He has been involved in administration at Pepperdine since he and Debby arrived on campus in 1984, serving in various roles including Vice President for University Affairs and, later, Executive Vice President … He spent years on the legal and regulatory front lines of the development of this campus … He and his wife, Debby, love Wave athletics and host numerous events in their home each year … Debby is a long-time member of the Athletics Board and they, together, enjoy supporting our teams in various venues … Their closets are literally filled with orange and blue clothing … President Benton served as Pepperdine’s institutional representative to the NCAA and the West Coast Conference from 1992 – 2000 … He was president of the West Coast Conference Presidents’ Council for three consecutive years.
Julie Evans, Women’s Volleyball
Played four seasons (1984-87) … An outside hitter from Newport Beach, Calif. … 1987 Volleyball Magazine All-American honorable mention (program’s first All-American) … 1985 and 1987 WCC Player of the Year (1985 was the first year the conference sponsored women’s volleyball) … Three-time All-WCC first team … Held Pepperdine’s career record for kills (1,955) for 10 seasons (now #2) … Led team in kills three times, and in aces twice and digs twice … Team went 82-58, won the program’s first two WCC titles and was in three NCAA Tournaments.
Carolina Llano, Women’s Golf
Played four seasons (2003-06) … From Medellin, Colombia … Three-time All-American (2004 and 2005 second team, 2006 honorable mention) … Three-time medalist at WCC Championships … Four-time All-WCC first team … 2003 WCC Freshman of the Year … Won four career tournaments … On Pepperdine career lists, currently ranks #5 in scoring average (73.95), #5 (tied) in sub-par rounds (24), #5 (tied) in top 10 finishes (18) and #6 (tied) in top 20 finishes (27) … T-6th at 2005 NCAA Championships … Team won four WCC titles and advanced to the NCAA Championships three times (finishing second, third and fourth) … 2006 NGCA All-American Scholar … Three-time WCC All-Academic … Earned an LPGA Tour card in 2008 and 2009.
Matt Rigg, Men’s Volleyball
Played four seasons (1984-87) … An outside hitter from Honolulu, Hawaii … 1985 AVCA All-American first team, and second team in 1986 … 1985 and 1986 NCAA All-Tournament Team … Three-time All-CIVA (1985 first team, 1986 second team, 1987 honorable mention) … Had 1,539 career kills, which stood as the school record for six years (now #7) … Had 692 career digs, which was the school record for seven years (now #3) … Led team in digs in 1986, a school-record 367 … Won two NCAA championships (1985, 1986) and was national runner-up in 1984 … Team went 92-23 in his four seasons.
Marilyn White, Women’s Track
Graduated in 1967 … Attended Pepperdine prior to women’s intercollegiate sports officially being added … First attended UCLA, then transferred to Pepperdine in 1965 after receiving a track scholarship … Competed in an unofficial capacity for the school … Won a silver medal in the 4×100 relay at the 1964 Olympics … Held the American record in the 220 … Placed third in the 100 meters at the 1963 Pan American Games and won a gold medal in the 4×100 relay … Taught in the Los Angeles Unified School District for 39 years.
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