SHUHEI MATSUO
Assistant Sports Editor
After winning six straight matches, nothing seems to affect the unstoppable Pepperdine men’s tennis team, even a loss of a doubles point.
The Waves beat No.-49 San Diego State 5-2 on Saturday and No.-72 University of Nevada Las Vegas on Sunday. Adding two victories this weekend, No.-10 Pepperdine maintained a perfect record of 5-0 at home and improved 6-1 for the season.
During Sunday’s game against UNLV, Pepperdine lost this season’s first doubles point at home. However, the Waves came back strong in singles action, taking five of six possible points.
“It was good to see they didn’t let it affect them and came out and fought from the beginning of singles because doubles was not good,” Head Coach Adam Steinberg said. “They had a great attitude in singles and that’s why we were able to come back.”
It is important for a young team to realize it can win the match even if it loses in doubles, he added. Senior Richard Johnson agreed.
“I think they were a good doubles team and we weren’t really ready for that,” he said.
Being undefeated since the season-opening loss, Johnson credited the impressive performances by the new players.
“Everything is coming together, and three new guys are amazing how well they’ve fit into our program,” he said.
Former Wave Scott Doerner came back to Malibu from his home country, Australia, on Friday and watched this year’s team for the first time after he left the team with the NCAA title in May.
“It’s hard to come in and play right away especially because tennis is an individual sport,” Doerner said. “They’ve got a great attitude and look really good.”
Doerner, who played the No.-1 position on the 2006 team, said his former teammates have become better than he remembers.
Doerner turned professional after graduating from Pepperdine in May and has undergone two surgeries. He said he has been practicing a lot and is back in shape to start playing some tournaments, but life is not the same when a player becomes a pro.
“It’s weird not having school,” he said with a small laugh. “But I’ve got a lot of time now so I’m practicing during the day, going to the gym, stretching and being professional.”
He also said he will be playing some tournaments in the United States and practicing with the team when he is in Malibu.
Capturing the national championship title at the end of his college career and turning professional soon after, Doerner wastes no time succeeding in professional tournaments. But his memories with the Pepperdine tennis team are still fresh.
“I miss [college tennis] a lot,” he said. “Watching the last couple of days, I wish I was playing.”
The Waves will travel to Chicago to compete at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships, which begins Friday. The ninth-seeded Pepperdine will face No.-8 seed Notre Dame in a 10 a.m. match in the opening round Friday.
“With six wins in a row against tough teams, everything is coming together,” he said. “So hopefully we can make a run for it in Chicago.”
02-15-2007