The Pepperdine’s women’s tennis team ranked No. 37 defeated West Coast Conference opponent University of San Diego No. 53 on the road last Sunday Feb. 14 6-1.
With the victory over San Diego the Waves improved their overall record this season to 3-3. The lady Waves won two out of the three doubles games earning a point for the doubles event. After the round of doubles the Waves dominated the Toreros in singles winning five out of the six singles games.
Sophomore Ali Walters said the Toreros were ready to defend their home court.
“San Diego was definitely fired up to play us Walters said, so we had to rise to the challenge.”
Freshman Marie Zalameda said the Waves were ready to win away from home.
“We knew what to expect and we basically had a game plan to play them Zalameda said.
In doubles, Anamika Bhargava and Zalameda defeated their San Diego counterparts 8-5, while fellow Waves Arianna Colffer and Tania Rice won their game, 8-4. The Pepperdine doubles team of Andrea Oates and Walters lost their game, 8-2. The Waves had already secured the point awarded for a doubles victory when Oates and Walters fell to the Toreros.
The majority of San Diego’s players have a much different game style than what we are used to playing Walters said. They are mostly ‘moon ballers’ which means they don’t do much except get every ball back. It was a good test of patience for us overall.”
Zalameda said it was beneficial to win the doubles point.
“We always go in to win the doubles point because we know that the singles will be tough Zalameda said.
In singles, Bhargava finished her match first, earning a win in two sets. Oates, Zalameda and Rice followed Bhargava’s lead, all finishing the day with wins over the Toreros in two sets. Walters’ game ended in a tiebreaker, with her taking the victory in three sets, 6-3, 4-6 and 6-4. Colffer lost her match in two sets, 7-6 and 6-4.
The Waves will continue their season with four consecutive away games— two in Texas and two in Las Vegas— but will then return to Malibu for 11 consecutive home games leading up to the WCC tournament.
Pepperdine’s next match will be against Baylor University in Waco, Texas on Saturday, Feb. 20.
Zalameda said her team learned from the San Diego match.
It was a good match to prepare us for next week Zalameda said. We were all really pumped to play this team.”
Walters believes the victory strengthened her team’s confidence.
“I think that it was a good confidence boost for us and we even won the doubles point Walters said.
