By Lauren Gustus
“Sports Editor
Sunday afternoon there were few bright spots at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center for a young women’s tennis team that found itself on the short end of a 5-1 contest with the Golden Bears from Berkeley, Calif. With freshmen at four of the six singles spots, the team is experiencing a long learning curve.
“It’s harder for inexperienced players to come through at the end,” head coach Gualberto Escudero said. “You have to go through those close matches and learn what to do when you win and what not to do when you lose.”
No. 12-ranked California won five of the six singles matches. There were no doubles matches played because of inclement weather.
Senior Monika Horvath was the lone winner for the Waves, despite playing with a sore back that has hampered her continually throughout the spring.
“Monika has had the bad back last year and this year,” Escudero said. “She won at UCLA and Berkeley, she can’t stand to lose against the schools she’s already beaten last year.”
She beat Jody Scheldt at the No. 5 singles spot in three sets, 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-6).
Freshmen Anna Andersson and Alexsandra Kujawska both lost in three sets, to Catherine Lynch 0-6, 7-5, 6-1 and Jieun Jacobs, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, respectively.
“Anna Andersson has been having some injury problems and she’s been doing very well, she was ready to clinch the match against a very tough Catherine Lynch,” Escudero said.
Andersson was hit by an errant baseball from the field just above Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center the day before against UCLA.
“She even got hit against UCLA, hit by a baseball,” Escudero said. “Anna has been doing quite well with injuries.”
The Waves now have a dual match record of 3-6, but all of the team’s losses have been to teams ranked in the Top 15 nationally, as Escudero has set up a tough schedule for his lady Waves. The California Golden Bears are still undefeated at 4-0.
Charlotte Vernaz fell at the No.1 singles spot in straight sets to Raquel Kop-Jones 6-2, 6-4.
“Vernaz had a chance to win some matches at No. 1, which is a very difficult position,” Escudero said. “ She can play a little smarter. She goes for the big shots.”
Freshman Karin Schlapbach fell to Christina Fusano 6-4, 6-4 and freshman Cedya Keyman lost to Kristen Case 6-0, 6-4.
On Saturday afternoon the Waves fell at home to No. 11-ranked UCLA 5-2. The Bruins took all three doubles matches and four of the singles matches to secure the win.
“Our doubles has been getting a little bit better each time we play,” Escudero said. “The girls are not naturally great doubles players. Great doubles players move a lot without the ball and serve big, and they are beginning to play better and better.”
The bright spots for the Waves were at the No. 4 and 5 singles spots. Andersson beat Sarah Gregg 7-5, 6-1 and Horvath put down a three set victory over Lauren Fisher 1-6, 6-3, 6-0.
Escudero thinks that with each game the team plays, it will improve.
“Maybe in the next few matches we will use our experience to get better.” Escudero said.
Pepperdine pulled out a 5-2 dual match victory over UC Irvine on Thursday afternoon.
After a busy week the lady Waves don’t play again until they take on No. 37 South Alabama at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center on Feb. 26 at 1:30 p.m.
February 21, 2002