By Kyle Jorrey
Sports Editor
Maybe all the Pepperdine men’s tennis team needed was a change of scenery.
This past weekend, riding a five-match losing streak and feeling desperate for a win, the Waves journeyed south of the Mason Dixon Line to take on athletic powerhouses Duke and Georgia, rated No. 9 and No. 17 respectively.
Sensing it could be a turning point in its season, the young squad responded, upending both teams in impressive-fashion, beating Duke 4-3 Friday and Georgia 5-2 two days later. The key wins served to remind fans, and themselves, of their unlimited potential.
“We let ourselves play … we refused to lose against Duke,” Head Coach Adam Steinberg said. “We didn’t play scared, we played to win, and that made the difference.
“We have a very talented team,” he continued. “And this was really the first time they let it come out.”
Despite dropping all three doubles matches, the Waves (10-8) battled back behind the inspired play of junior Calle Hansen, freshman Scott Doerner and sophomore Alexis Rafidison. With the score knotted at three a piece, the Waves were on the verge of losing another match 4-3, as freshman Kevin Borzenski lost his first set in the contest’s deciding match.
But with the cheers and encouragement of his teammates flooding his ears, Borzenski, playing with the courage of a veteran, fought back to win the match 2-6, 7-6, 6-4. The win was huge, not only for the team, but for Borzenski.
“Kevin was definitely our MVP,” Steinberg said. “I’ve been telling the guys all season the best way to gain confidence is to win one of those … he needed that, and the team needed that, and he stepped up in a big spot and won.”
Doerner, who had a similar victory earlier in this season, said Borzenski was able to feed off the attitude of his teammates.
“Everyone was willing him on, everyone just wanted him to win,” Doerner said. “In that last set, it didn’t matter if he kicked the ball over the net, we just wanted the win.”
Hansen agreed with his coach about the importance of the match.
“It was unbelievable for the team and for him,” Hansen said. “He had been struggling, starting to doubt himself, hanging his head … this match he just played amazing, and he played with a lot of guts. I was really proud of him.”
The following Sunday the Waves carried their momentum from the Duke match into their contest against Georgia, and soundly pounded the Bulldogs in all facets of the game.
The Waves continued their strong play at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, as the tandems of Hansen and Diego Acuna, and Doerner and Pedro Rico grabbed wins. The team didn’t let up in singles action, beating the Bulldogs in four out of six matches to secure the win.
Doerner said this past weekend was the most complete tennis the team had played all season.
“There was just a feeling amongst the guys they we had a chance to turn it all around,” Doerner said. “And it was awesome to do it against two great teams … it was probably the turning point in our season.”
The head coach agreed.
“Without a doubt it’s the turning point of our season,” Steinberg said. “The look in their eye, they wanted to win so bad. They were like enough is enough, and they went out and showed how talented this team is.”
Things don’t get any easier for the Waves as they face conference foe Santa Clara today before taking on the No. 1 team in the nation, the Illinois Fighting Illini on Friday. Both games will be here in Malibu, where Pepperdine has struggled to claim victory lately.
With the top-ranked Illini looming over the horizon, the team is working not to forget the importance of today’s match against the Broncos.
“We know that we have a lot to lose if we’re to lose the match (against SCU),” Steinberg said. “Especially after last weekend, I don’t think the guys would do that, we know every win is important to our season.”
Against Illinois, a team Steinberg is very familiar with, the Waves will have to bring their best games. Facing a team with three of the nation’s top 15 players, the doubles point will be crucial for the victory.
“We have to go for win, but it’s going to be really tough,’ Hansen said. “It’s good we’re playing them outdoors and they’ve been playing mostly indoors. That means a lot of stuff can happen … we know we have the talent to beat anybody if we all play together.”
March 27, 2003