By Steve Pinkerton
Staff Writer
To prepare for what will likely be a difficult meet against Stanford, the Waves return this week to what Pepperdine coach Gualberto Escudero called “the basics,” by running old drills and accelerating the level of competition during practice after losing to UCLA 6-1 Saturday.
Pepperdine must deal with some crucial setbacks this season. “We’re a really new team,” said freshman Ceyda Keyman. “Most of us are freshmen. Once we get into a rhythm, we’ll do better.”
“We have an uphill battle ahead of us,” agreed Escudero. “We have a lot of maturing to do, and a lot of toughening up to do. Every day will be a learning experience for us.”
In addition to their relative inexperience, the Waves must contend for the time being without the aid of senior Paola Palencia. A past All-American, Palencia’s wrist injury keeps her from competing.
Pepperdine must also wait for freshman Anna Andersson, who is sidelined with a sore shoulder. Escudero and his team expect Palencia to join them soon, however. “She’ll strengthen us a bit,” Escudero said.
Perhaps the injuries contributed to the Waves’ loss to cross-town rival UCLA in Westwood.
The Bruins won swiftly on Saturday, with only one match even reaching a third set. That match pitted Pepperdine junior Monica Horvath against the Bruin’s Sarah Gregg, who won the match. Escudero attributed Horvath’s loss to an injured back.
Horvath, who two years ago was the top freshman player in the nation, has “played fairly strong” despite her injury, Escudero said.
“I’m not used to losing (to UCLA),” Horvath said. Nor should she be, as Pepperdine had beaten the Bruins four seasons in a row before this year.
Pepperdine won its only point of the day when UCLA’s Petya Marinova withdrew from her second set with freshman Charlotte Vernaz because of a hamstring injury.
Ranked 16th in the country, the Bruins retained their No. 1 singles player from last year and boast a new player at No. 2 who Escudero described as perhaps “the best recruit in the country.”
The Waves may need all the strength they can muster in their effort against defending NCAA team champion Stanford this weekend.
Beyond Stanford, the Waves look forward to post-season competition. To reach the playoffs, a team must win its conference or post a satisfactory season record.
Pepperdine, ranked 24th nationally at the outset of the season, has already beaten WCC rival San Diego, 7-0. The Waves may face more competent opposition in the form of Loyola Marymount, whose team overcame San Diego last season.
In the meantime, the focus is on top-ranked Stanford, whom Pepperdine will host this Saturday at the Ralphs-Strauss Tennis Center.
January 31, 2002