By Lauren Gustus
Sports Editor
At a place where the sun don’t shine like it does in Malibu, the men’s tennis team found themselves without a homecourt advantage in the frosty midsection of the United States.
Playing indoors against No. 6-ranked Illinois at the Atkins Tennis Center in Champaign, Ill., the No. 7-ranked Waves fell to the Illini 5-2.
“We were just impressed with the beauty of their school,” head coach Peter Smith said, joking about the uncharacteristic distraction that his team seemed to display.
Smith took the Waves to Illinois last weekend to prepare them for the USTA/ITANational Indoor Team Championships this weekend in Louisville, Ky.
“Tennis played outdoors and indoors is very different,” Smith said. “That’s why we go to Illinois.”
Pepperdine plays Notre Dame first in the 16-team tournament. If they win, then the Waves will face the No. 1 Georgia in the second round.
“It’s a great opportunity to play the best team in the nation at a neutral site,” Smith said.
The bright spots for Pepperdine against Illinois were at the doubles spots and the first singles spot.
The tandem of seniors Al Garland and Stefan Suter knocked off Mike Kosta and Nathan Zeder in a hard fought 9-8 victory.
The Illini’s Amer Delic and Michael Caulkins beat the Waves’ Johan Berg and Sebastien Graeff in another close match, 8-6. But Pepperdine sophomore Calle Hansen and freshman Brian Wright countered with an 8-3 win and secured the doubles point for the Waves.
Garland was the only singles winner, defeating the Illini’s Delic in straight sets, 7-6, 6-2. “Al’s a stud,” Smith said. “He’s playing very good. He’s got a lot of confidence.”
Brian Wilson, feeling “good vibrations” in a three-set victory at the No. 2 spot, beat Suter 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
“We were pretty close in another couple of matches,” Smith said. “Stefan was playing good, he had a chance at (the) 5 (spot).”
Pepperdine’s Hansen fell to Phil Stolt 7-6, 6-3. Caulkins beat the Waves’ Steve Racioppi 6-2, 6-2 and Berg fell to Illinios’ Kosta 6-2, 7-5. Sophomore Diego Acuna lost to the Illini’s Zeder 6-2, 6-4.
The Waves are hoping that they get far enough in Louisville to have another try at the Illini, who will also be competing in the Indoor Championships that begin today.
February 07, 2002