Matt Tarantino

	Class: Sophomore
	Hometown: Van Nuys, Calif.
	High School: Bishop Alemany HS

	Height: 6-8
	Position: Opposite/Middle Blocker
	Experience: 1V

01/06/2013

Pepperdine Opens Season on Tuesday at UC Irvine

Waves embark on 2013 season with road matches at UC Irvine and UC San Diego.

12/28/2012

Men's Volleyball Prepares for 2013 Season at Thompson Rivers Tournament

Waves tune up for 2013 season with an exhibition tournament this weekend.

12/11/2012

MPSF Preseason Coaches' Poll Puts Waves in Third Place

The Waves tally 113 votes in the MPSF preseason poll, and are predicted to finish in third place.

11/01/2012

Men's Volleyball Announces 2013 Schedule

Waves to play 12 home matches inside Firestone Fieldhouse this season.

09/28/2012

Kalmbach, Robinson Set for NORCECA Beach Tour at U.S. Olympic Training Center

Waves in action this weekend in Chula Visa, Calif.

03/08/2012

Pepperdine vs. Penn State

Matt Tarantino Career Statistics

PEPPERDINE 2012: MPSF All-Freshman team ... Played in 86 sets and 23 matches ... After coming to Pepperdine as an opposite side hitter, transitioned to the middle blocker position and won the starting spot part way through the season ... Made first career start at UC San Diego (1/27) and started in 21 matches .... Set a season-high with 11 kills earned on a .692 (11-2-13) attack percentage at Stanford (2/24) ... Eclipsed double-digit kill totals on four occasions ... Averaged 1.51 kills for a total of 130 as a freshman ... Recorded a season hitting percentage of .396 which ranked 11thin the MPSF ... Totaled nine service aces and 26 digs ... Averaged 0.99 blocks for a total of 85 ... Concluded the year with seven blocks at Stanford (4/21) ... Posted a season-best eight blocks vs. Pacific (3/31).

USA:Two-year member of the U.S. Boys' Youth National Team ... In 2010, the BYNT placed second at the NORCECA Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico ... Won bronze at the 2011 Men's U19 Pan American Cup in Mexicali, Mexico ... Member of the 2012 U.S. Men's Junior National team that won a gold medal at the NORCECA Continental Championship in Colorado Springs, Colo.

CLUB: Played for Santa Monica Beach Volleyball Club's 14s, 16s, 17s and 18s squads.

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Bishop Alemany High School in 2011 ... Four-year varsity letterwinner ... As a senior, broke the Bishop Alemany High School record for kills in one season with 510 ... A Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 selection, and was also named a Boys' High School Second Team All-American by VBM ... Senior accolades include Mission League MVP and All-CIF ... Earned second-team all-league honors as a freshman and junior ... Also played football for two seasons.

PERSONAL: Born in Mission Hills, Calif. ... Son of Vince and Shannyn Tarantino ... Has one brother, Anthony ... Father played football at Weber State ... Great grandfather, Buck Gilmore, was a member of the UCLA football team.

FAVORITES: Favorite pro volleyball player is Clay Stanley ... Favorite pro sports team is the Oakland Raiders ... Favorite book is Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss ... Favorite TV show is the Simpsons ... Favorite food is seafood ... Favorite sport other than volleyball is football ... Favorite movie is 300 ... Favorite musical artist is Bob Marley.