To say Pepperdine is the tallest women's volleyball team in the country does not do justice to its mind-boggling mass.

At an average of more than 6 feet 1, including 5-6 libero Kekai Crabbe (Kamehameha) and 6-5 middle Lecca Roberts (Seabury Hall), Pepperdine towers over even Nebraska and Texas. The Waves have seven players at 6-3 or taller.

But let Pepperdine coach Nina Matthies, a legendary and relatively petite beach player now in her 24th season at Malibu, put it in perspective:

"This is my biggest team by far," Matthies said. "I'm a shrimp. It's amazing."

The 19th-ranked Waves will help seventh-ranked Hawai'i open its volleyball season tomorrow and Saturday at Stan Sheriff Center. Both teams finished 2005 in the NCAA's Sweet 16.

Pepperdine is large, but largely untested outside and at setter.

Matthies has four starters back from last year's 18th-ranked team. There is Roberts and three 2005 statistical leaders — Sophia Milo (blocks), Julie Rubenstein (kills) and Crabbe (digs).

Milo and Rubenstein, who had eight block solos in one match last year as a freshman, are both 6-4. UH coach Dave Shoji characterizes them as "legitimate All-American" candidates.

Three freshmen from the Waves' recruiting class, ranked seventh by prepvolleyball.com, will probably start. Kiah Fiers is the new setter and Rachel Lumsden (6-3) and Kayla Walker (6-6) will be outside.

That leads Matthies to see something beyond size as the Waves' greatest attribute.

"Our best attribute now is our youth and enthusiasm," she said. "The players are excited to be here and be with each other.

"We're all trying to figure ourselves out and figure out the freshmen. The problem Friday will be keeping everyone calm and steady. And, second, they have to understand this is our first match in four months so we're not going to live and die with these matches."

The Rainbow Wahine have little idea what to expect, not that scouting plays a huge part in any season opener.

"They are starting two or three new players so it's hard to get a feel for their team," Shoji said. "But their size is what really bothers us."

It is a label that makes Matthies laugh. The school with arguably America's most pristine beach setting has always been known for its ballhandling.

"I don't think I've changed a bit," Matthies argued. "I've just got big ballhandlers now."

It provides an ideal gauge for Hawai'i, which will play three top-10 teams (No. 5 Florida, No. 10 UCLA and No. 4 Stanford) in the next two weeks. It also allows Pepperdine to get a good sense of its large self.

"I think Hawai'i is very, very athletic," Matthies said. "I love their setting. Their outside hitters are strong and very experienced at going the distance.

"We'll start by playing a great team in front of a great crowd and come back home and see where we are. We start school Monday and off we go."

NOTES

Hawai'i leads the series with Pepperdine 22-3. The Waves' last win came six years ago. Before that, they had not beaten the 'Bows since 1976.

Pepperdine was the preseason pick to finish second in the West Coast Conference, just behind defending champion Santa Clara. The Broncos reached last year's final four.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.