In its 2010 spring season home opener the Pepperdine women’s tennis team defeated Rice University at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center on Sunday Feb. 7 5-2. The Waves (2-3) will not have another home match until early March.
Sunday’s matchup began with three doubles matches. Anamika Bhargava and Marie Zalameda played together but fell to their Rice counterparts 8-5.
“We definitely got off to a slow start in the beginning Zalameda said. In doubles me and Anu might have been little nervous which is probably the reason why we got behind too soon.”
Pepperdine’s second doubles team of Andrea Oates and Ali Walters also lost to a Rice doubles team that went to a tie breaker 9-7. Walters said there is room for improvement for the Waves’ double play.
“I think that as a team we are definitely trying to improve our doubles. We have been mixing around partner combinations and trying to find the right fits Walters said.
The Pepperdine doubles team of Arianna Colffer and Tania Rice was the only team to defeat Rice at 8-4.
For winning two out of the three doubles events, Rice received one point toward the final score. Six points are awarded for each of the six singles matches that are scheduled after the doubles events. The first team to reach five points is the winner.
In singles we put that [doubles loss] behind us and just fought for every match Zalameda said. I wanted to win so badly so I went out to my singles match only expecting to win. That’s how all of us felt and it worked.”
Colffer Walters Bhargava Zalameda and Rice all won their singles events. Oates sophomore lost to Rice University’s Ana Guzman in three games; the last one ending in a tie breaker 7-5. Colffer and Walters won their singles matches in two games. Bhargava Zalameda and Rice each won their singles matches in three games.
“I think we did show a lot of heart coming back and winning five out of the six singles points after losing the doubles point Walters said.
Waves’ Head Coach Gualberto Escudero said it was disheartening to lose the doubles event, but felt confident his team would win singles.
We had a chance to beat [Rice] 6-0 and they took it to heart and went out there and fought quite well Escudero said. It was a good match to evaluate ourselves and I’m very happy to have the win.”
Sunday was a success for women’s tennis and the women gave the match all they had.
“We definitely competed well and put our hearts out there Zalameda said.
Pepperdine will match up against San Diego in West Coast Conference play Sunday on the road at 11 a.m.
