NICOLE ALBERTSON
Staff Writer
The Pepperdine women’s tennis team has been traveling the state, building their confidence and raising their national ranking to No. 19.
In the past three weeks, women’s tennis has competed against top-ranked teams including No. 1 Stanford, No. 18 Berkeley, No. 25 Baylor, University of Nevada, Las Vegas and New Mexico.
The unfortunate loss against Stanford postponed the team’s hopes of tattooing Head Coach Escudero’s arm, Escudero’s long-time promise if the Waves could defeat the top school. After losing the coveted double point, the women fought to regain control but were defeated by the top ranking school.
“We wanted it so bad,” said freshman Jill Braverman. “We still thought we could pull it out. We will just have to wait for next year.”
While all of the matches did not pull toward Pepperdine’s favor — the Waves lost to Stanford 6-1, Berkeley 6-1 and Baylor 6-1 — the women finished last week with success and confidence when they defeated Virgina Commonwealth and New Mexico. Pepperdine then grabbed a 6-1 victory over Princeton on Wednesday.
“They were a very good team and it was an even match,” said Escudero of VCU. “We played even with them and it was one of the best wins of the year.”
But the Pepperdine women were suffering from multiple losses leading into the competitions.
Against VCU, No.-1 player Bianca Dulgheru lost in the doubles round with teammate No.-2 Sylvia Kosakowski and was soon taken out of the singles portion of the match due to an achilles tendon injury, which occurred earlier in the season.
Senior Caroline Raba was also missing from the action against New Mexico due to tendonitis in her wrist and shooting pain through her elbow, which has been flaring up throughout the season.
With two of Pepperdine’s top players out of the match, the Waves entered the singles matches determined to win despite their handicaps.
“We knew before that they were better in double than in singles,” junior Dulgheru said about VCU. “We just came out so motivated and fought to the last point. It really felt like we came together.”
Freshman players Jill Braverman, Katia Sabate, Tania Rice and Anete Bandere filled the upper classmen’s shoes and dominated the court against New Mexico winning all four matches.
“It makes you feel like a part of the team,” Braverman said. “We have really proven to [Coach Escudero] that we are capable and mentally able. It was such a huge boost of confidence.”
Coach Escudero agrees the unfortunate circumstance producing injured players resulted in benefits for the younger team members.
“We have been gaining a lot more experience for the freshman players,” Escudero said. “Now we can put them in at any time so it is good for them.”
Although the Waves have been enduring a tough schedule, the constant matches have brought the team closer and built confidence for the upcoming matches.
“I think playing so many games actually helped us,” Dulgheru said. “It made us tougher and we got our timing back. Now we just have to keep the momentum and we should win against Princeton and Sacramento State.”
Eva Dickes and Bandere will be teaming up as the No. 2 doubles and Braverman will match up with Rice in the No. 3 double spot in the up coming matches against Princeton and Sacramento State.
“We are really trying to get healthy,” said Escudero. “We need those two players as healthy as possible.”
The Waves will continue to battle Sacramento State at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center on Saturday at 11:30 p.m.
03-22-2007
