Pepperdine begins play in its first tournament as a team today at the ITA Omni Hotel Regionals in Carson. Tough competition expected.
By Kyle Jorrey
Sports Editor
In what players and coaches have tabbed their biggest tournament of this fall, the men’s tennis team begins play early today at the ITA Omni Hotel Regionals in Carson, Calif.
For the first time this preseason, every member of the Waves team will be in attendance, as players compete for individual singles and doubles awards against some of the best talent in the area.
According to sophomore Scott Doerner, despite the fact the tournament is not considered a “team” match, the outcomes will have an impact on Pepperdine’s ranking come the spring season.
“It’s important because it lets us see how we stack up against the other guys across the area,” Doerner said. “Plus, if a couple guys do well and get a ranking, than it looks better for the team when the association comes up with its team rankings for the regular season.”
Both Doerner and sophomore Kevin Borzenski will be looking to join senior Calle Hansen and sophomore Pedro Rico as Pepperdine’s ranked players. Currently, Hansen and Rico are ranked No. 24 and No. 54 respectively.
“Rankings and votes make this tournament important,” Hansen said. “It’s a great chance for guys like Scott (Doerner) and Kevin (Borzenski) to establish themselves and possibly get a ranking.”
The Waves squad will be competing against players from most of the top tennis schools in the West, including Arizona, USC, UCLA, San Diego State, and Stanford.
A top place singles or doubles finish would qualify those players for the ITA National Indoors Championship to be held Nov. 6. Hansen said winning this weekend’s draw would be quite an accomplishment.
“Our region, if it is not the toughest, is one of the toughest for sure,” Hansen said.
Even though they will be competing for personal accolades, the Waves said they are still approaching regionals as a team, and as a family. Players will be wearing team jerseys, and keeping up-to-date on each others’ performances, as well as time will allow.
“Even though we are playing at an individual tournament, we work really hard to work as a team,” Hansen said. “When we can, we yell for each other, we support each other; we want to show everyone we’re still a team.”
In the weeks leading up to regionals, the Waves have had some great individual performances. Playing some of the best tennis of his short college career, Rico advanced all the way to the finals of ITA All-American Championships held Oct. 10-12 in Chattanooga, Tenn. He knocked off three ranked players en route to the finals of the back draw, before falling to Conner Niland of UC Berkeley in the final match.
His performance showed the ITA committee and his teammates why the 2004 season should be a big one for Rico.
“Pedro (Rico) keeps playing better and better, I feel like he gets more comfortable every match he plays,” Hansen said. “He’s got a big game, but he’s learning a lot about the small details every practice. There’s really no doubt in my mind he’s going to be a top-20 player this year.”
And just last week, at the Midland Invitational in Texas, Doerner, playing in just his second tournament of the season, went 3-1 and advanced all the way to the semifinals against some tough competition.
“It was good tournament, the conditions were fast and that suited my game,” Doerner said. “It was good to get the wins.”
Doerner lost 7-6, 0-6, 2-6 to UCLA’s Krystof Kwuinta in the semis.
With all of this early season success, Pepperdine tennis looks in good shape for its run on the national title this spring. But, said Hansen, the squad’s captain, it’s important for them, and himself, to keep winning.
“To me, I need to do well this weekend because it’s very important that (my teammates) know I can play good tennis,” Hansen said. “I want to play good to show them that I’m there for them, and I want to lead by example. Even though this is an individual tournament, I still want to win for this team and play as a team member.”
October 23, 2003