GREG BARNETT
Sports Editor
The No.-25 Pepperdine women’s tennis team edged both the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and Virginia Commonwealth University, 4-3, last weekend in Las Vegas. The Waves, currently on a seven-match winning streak, improved to 12-3 on the season.
Head Coach Gualberto Escudero said his team could have gotten sidetracked, but it didn’t and won two close matches against quality opponents.
“The girls may think they were going to Vegas for a little R & R,” Escudero said. “The breeze and the high altitude, just all kinds of things, so it was a good win.”
Saturday, the women faced host UNLV and got off to a good start by winning the doubles point.
Seniors Sylvia Kosakowski and Bianca Dulgheru continued their success with a victory in the No.-1 doubles (8-5). Sophomores Tania Rice and Anete Bandere won their No.-3 doubles match (8-6). The newly formed tandem of sophomore Jill Braverman and freshman Anu Bhargava easily won their No.-2 doubles match (8-3).
“I loved playing with Anete — I miss her — but at the same time Jill is always in your face and intense, but it’s fun,” Bhargava said. “At first it wasn’t the best, but you have to adjust. We played really well together and we’re clicking.”
In singles play, the Waves split the six matches to win the match, 4-3. Despite Pepperdine’s top two players losing, the number 3-5 singles won their matches to clinch the victory. Bandere clinched the victory by winning a close, three-set match (6-2, 1-6, 6-3).
Sunday against VCU, the Waves again won the doubles point and split the singles matches, 3-3.
In singles, Bhargava bounced back from a loss Saturday to dominate her match (6-1, 6-3). Bandere continued her impressive play with another three-set victory (2-6, 6-3, 6-2). Finally, in the No.-6 slot, junior Alex Liles won her match (6-4, 6-1).
Pep next hosts Long Beach State on Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.
03-20-2008