GREG BARNETT
Sports Editor
The No.-17 women’s tennis team continued its winning ways with a 6-1 victory at the University of San Diego on Saturday. With the win, the Waves grabbed their fourth consecutive match and first over a conference opponent.
The match was the Waves’ first road trip out of the Los Angeles area this season. Head Coach Gualberto Escudero said he was pleased with the way his team performed.
“We expected to beat them pretty soundly, and we did,” he said. “It was a good bonding experience for the team being together for the first time in a hotel, with dinner and to warm up at a different place.”
All three pairs of Waves won their doubles match as Seniors Sylvia Kosakowski and Bianca Dulgheru won their seventh consecutive dual doubles match by defeating senior Monica Wisener and freshman Milou Teeling (8-2). Freshman Anu Bhargava and sophomore Anete Bandere crushed senior Helene Lindstrand and sophomore Alexandra Demidova, 8-0. Finally, the tandem of sophomores Tania Rice and Jill Braverman notched a win over junior Tammy Kevey and sophomore Justine Perl (8-5).
In singles action, the only Wave not to win was Dulgheru, who lost (7-6, 7-5) to Lindstrand in the longest match of the day. Kosakowski had no trouble defeating Wiesener in the No.-1 singles match (6-2, 6-2) while Bhargava continued her singles winning streak to 11 matches by dominating Demidova (6-2, 6-0).
“I think the girl had the perfect game for me,” Bhargava said. “She hit high loopy balls, and I could do anything I wanted with them.”
Escudero said he is happy with how Bhargava is performing in her freshman season and is capable of playing the No.-1 or No.-2 singles in the future.
“[Bhargava] is better than she looks,” Escudero said. “Her opponents might think she is lazy looking but she can put it all together with deep shots, short shots and an aggressive backhand.”
The last three singles matches were won quite easily by Pepperdine, with each Wave capturing a set 6-0. Bandere defeated junior Carla Tamborini (6-0, 6-4) and Braverman defeated Perl (6-2, 6-0). Finally, Rice downed freshman Ellie Faulkner (6-1, 6-0).
Next up for the Waves is a home dual match against the University of Nevada on Saturday at 11 a.m.
02-21-2008