By Kyle Jorrey
Sports Editor
Participating in their first competitive event as a full team, the members of the Pepperdine men’s tennis team went into the 2003 ITA Regional Championship playing for individual honors, but fighting to gain respect collectively.
The event, held just down the freeway in Carson, Calif., attracted the top singles and doubles players out of the West region, and though team scores were not tallied, Pepperdine clearly gave the best showing.
In singles play, sophomores Pedro Rico and Scott Doerner continued to make the most out of their preseason, as each advanced to the semifinals, beating out 60 of 64 competitors.
Senior Calle Hansen, who admitted to getting out of his game plan and not playing his best tennis, still was able to advance to round 16 before falling to Southern California’s Ruben Torres in three sets 7-5, 4-6, 5-7. Junior Alexis Rafidison and sophomores Kevin Borzenski and Ali Fehmi all lost on the first day of play.
In the semis, Doerner and Rico were set to play each other in the finals, but each was knocked out by worthy competitors. Doerner, who advanced to semis for the second straight week, lost a tough match to Torres, but still walked away with a chance for national ranking.
Head Coach Adam Steinberg had nothing but good things to say about Doerner’s play as of late.
“He’s really turned it up,” Steinberg said. “I think he’ll most likely get a ranking and that’s really been a goal of his since coming back from summer. He’s been playing a much more aggressive style, coming to the net relentlessly. That’s when he’s playing at his best.”
In the other semi, Rico lost his match to eventual tournament singles champion Tobias Clemens of UCLA. Despite the loss, Steinberg said the match between Rico and Clemens, who ranks among the nation’s best, was fantastic tennis.
“I thought the match against Pedro (Rico) was one of the best I’ve seen in tennis this year,” he said. “The level of play was great.”
On the doubles side, Hansen and Doerner, who had yet to play together this fall, made it all the way to the semifinals before losing to UC Irvine’s talented duo Jon Endrikat and Brian Morton 8-5.
Hansen said he was unhappy with his overall play at regionals, but will build from his miscues before the start of the regular season. He said his main problem was forgetting to stick to his strong suits.
“I haven’t played that bad in a long time,” Hansen admitted. “The first two matches I didn’t play very well, and I really had to fight when usually I get the points easier. By my third match I just totally came out of my game, and when I do that, I don’t play very well.
“But I’m so happy to see Pedro (Rico) and Scott (Doerner) playing like they are,” he added. “I think it showed that we aren’t going to have just one or steady guys this year, we are going to have a few guys who can really come out and perform.”
After two consecutive winning weekends, Doerner said all that’s left now is to keep working hard and not let up. The Waves don’t start their regular season until early January, almost three months away.
“I feel when I’m playing my best I can match with the best guys in the country,” Doerner said. “I just need to prove it and not just can’t say it… I need to keep backing it up in the spring when it matters the most.”
Doerner pointed out the Waves’ improved physical condition as a reason for their successful fall season, and said he hopes his teammates won’t give up the training during their time off.
“We are all in great shape, we just need to maintain that,” the sophomore said. “It’s up to us to go and keep practicing hard are own even when we don’t have scheduled practices. We need to carry new form with us into the spring.”
The regular season kicks off Jan. 21 versus UC Santa Barbara.
October 30, 2003