VYPE U -- Catching Up with Katie Messing -- Presented by Wells Fargo

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VYPE U

Messing Makes Waves

By Matt Malatesta

In 2010, The Woodlands volleyball team made school history reaching the state finals. Hammering home kills that memorable season was 6-foot-4 Katie Messing, who now dons the Pepperdine Waves uniform and has immediate success.

Messing was part of history again during her freshman season as she helped lead Pepperdine to its first-ever Elite 8 appearance in the NCAA Tournament. She appeared in 32 matches and earned WCC All-Freshman honors.

"It was an amazing experience last year," she said. "Playing in the Elite 8 in Hawaii in front of 10,000 fans was intimidating but it is something I'll never forget. The student body was so supportive because we were making school history. It was great."

Pepperdine University is made up of only 3,000 students, whereas The Woodlands High School has over 4,000 students, but Messing is fitting in nicely.

"It was the right choice for me," she said. "Our coach is like a mother-figure to all of us. She's tough, but she loves us up also. The atmosphere here is incredible. There are ocean views from all of our rooms. The athletes all hang out together and the academics are really challenging."

The transition from high school to college has been relatively seamless for Messing, but it's the little things are the most difficult.

"The transition has been pretty easy," she said. "Volleyball becomes your life. It consumes ever day. Your off day during the season is usually a travel day. But it's fun. The hardest things to get used to are all the things that your parents used to do for you. From making doctor's appointment  to cooking to washing clothes, that's the most difficult part. I seem to have a lot on my plate before I know it, it's time to go to bed."

Messing's early success hasn't surprised her former coach Leslie Madison of The Woodlands.

"I am not surprised at all with her success at Pepperdine. It has been impressive to watch her improve from an already great player," Madison said. "I know she will continue to have success throughout her career

"She was one of the best volleyball players I have ever coached. Her fundamentals and technique were remarkable especially for her size. My favorite part about Katie however was her personality off the court and her demeanor on the court. She never acted as if she was better than everyone else and never took herself very serious."

While Pepperdine and Messing fell short of an indoor national championship, the Waves won the first-ever sand volleyball national championship. Messing was an alternate on the sand team, and looks to play both in years to come.

When asked to pass on a bit of advice to volleyball players who have college aspirations, Messing was quick to answer about what to expect.

"Coaches never cancel practices, never," she laughs. "Wind, rain, whatever. They never cancel practice."