By Kyle Jorrey
Sports Editor
Sure, it’s still early. Real early. But there’s nothing wrong with getting off to a good start.
Facing a less-than-superb field of competition, the four Pepperdine players who were selected to attend last weekend’s 35th annual Princeton Invitational rolled through the their opponents – taking home the singles and doubles crowns.
Pepperdine, made up of senior Calle Hansen, sophomores Pedro Rico, Scott Doerner, and Kevin Borzenski, dominated the individual competition, which was made up of college tennis players from eight different universities.
Rico and Hansen took home the doubles crown 8-4, before returning to court to face each other in the single’s finale.
Hansen outlasted his teammate and friend, who unwisely decided to play to the senior’s powerful backhand and couldn’t defend his lighting-fast service.
“I served really good, I think I had like 15 aces,” Hansen laughed. “I thought maybe he could have played a little smarter, he kept going to my backhand which I like … but it’s always hard playing teammates.”
Though the tournament lacked the top-tier competitors Pepperdine is used to playing, Head Coach Adam Steinberg said it was a good start.
“It’s a great first tournament for us, a perfect start,” Steinberg said.
According to Steinberg, the tournament allowed some of his key players to get in much needed time on the court.
The warm-up was important for Rico and Hansen, who
were invited to travel to Chattanooga, Tenn., in two weeks for the ITA All-American Championships.
Hansen is preseason ranked No. 24 in singles, while Rico is No. 54. The two are the No. 7 ranked doubles tandem in the nation.
September 25, 2003