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“Champions keep playing until they get it right.”
These are the words of legendary tennis star Billie Jean King.
The Pepperdine women’s tennis team is working out the glitches as the players push their way to the top. They know that playing the best will challenge them to step up and compete with collegiate tennis’ elite.
In back-to-back matchups last weekend, the No. 33 ranked Waves faced two top programs, UCLA and University of Southern California. Both teams, ranked in the top 10, proved just a little too much for the rebuilding Pepperdine squad. The University of California Irvine also overpowered a short-handed Waves squad Wednesday.
Friday the Waves fell to the No. 9 Bruins 4-3. However, Pepperdine didn’t give UCLA the win easily.
“I felt really good about the match,” freshman Natalie Braverman said. “Our team came very close to them. A lot of the matches that didn’t go our way last time went our way.”
The previous meeting between the teams had ended in a 6-1 UCLA win. This time around the score more closely reflected the solid performances of the Waves.
“It was definitely a better match-up this time,” sophomore Veronika Koksava said. “We have more experience now, we’ve played more matches, and we have more of a strategy when we face a team we know.”
UCLA took control of the courts early, winning the doubles point
Pepperdine rookies Merve Asimgil and Braverman, teamed together to win their doubles match at the No. 2 spot, but that was not enough to grab the point.
Pepperdine continues to work on its doubles performances.
“There was a point in the season where we would lose the doubles point to teams we shouldn’t have,” Braverman said. “We’d kind of figure we’d lose it, oh well, and that we’d come back in the singles. We’ve improved our doubles now that everyone is finding the partner she plays best with. We may not have gotten the doubles points this weekend, but we’re getting much better.”
A long fight in the No. 1 singles spot from Braverman led to a win over UCLA’s Sarah Walker. Walker is rated sixth in the International Tennis Ratings.
“Obviously I was very happy to beat her,” Braverman said. “Part of me doesn’t want to think about it too much though because I still have so many goals and things I want to accomplish this season. I don’t have time to stop and celebrate because there are so many things left to be done.”
Braverman won her match 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.
“We haven’t beat Walker in three years,” Head Coach Gualberto Escudero said. “She is a very talented player who has an awesome record for UCLA, something like 125-6. Braverman beat her in straight sets. It was awesome to watch.”
Pepperdine also had a win at No. 2 singles from junior Charlotte Vernaz in sets of 2-6, 6-2, 7-6, (8-6) and freshman Asimgil rallied to win her match 6-3, 6-1
Saturday Pepperdine took to the courts again, facing No. 3 ranked USC. The Waves fell to the Trojans 5-2.
“Both matches this weekend were confidence boosters for us,” Braverman said. “Although we didn’t win, we are confident that we can compete right up there with the top teams.”
The loss brought Pepperdine to 5-3 for the season and moved USC to 6-1.
“We thought we might not come back the next day with energy,” Escudero said. “We did though and we had many close matches that went to three sets. USC really had to battle for the points.”
Braverman was beat out at the No. 1 spot. Vernaz outlasted at the No. 2 position, 3-6, 7-6, (5), 7-6 (5).
“Vernaz had a marathon match that went on and on,” Escudero said. “She’s playing very well right now.”
Asimgil also grabbed the point at the No. 3 position.
“It’s always difficult to do back-to-back matches, especially against teams as good as these,” Braverman said. “It was hard, but we have to get used to it for conference and NCAA. If we look to the long term effects, this was a positive experience for us.”
In the last of six home matches against Southern California rivals, Pepperdine faced University of California Irvine Wednesday. They were defeated by the Anteaters, 5-2.
“It was a disappointing loss,” Escudero said. “Even with four players we had a good chance to win. UCI isn’t a strong team. On a normal meeting they would be lucky to pick up one of two points, but our performances were sub-par. We needed to rise to the occasion and we didn’t.”
Braverman, Koksava and senior Monika Horvath, all key contributors, sat out due to injury.
Pepperdine had to default two singles matches and one doubles match due to their lack of numbers. Because they lost the doubles point, to win they would have had to capture all four singles matches that were played. Sophomore Anna Andersson and sophomore Karin Schlapbach won at No. 2 and No. 3 singles for the Waves, but that was not enough.
Pepperdine’s next match is against Cal Berkeley Friday at 1:30.
“We’re traveling up North,” Escudero said. “We’re taking six and playing four again. It’s mathematically possible for us to win, but they are a really good team, ranked No. 4 right now. They will probably take care of us, but hopefully we’ll be able to pull out some surprises.”
Submitted February 20, 2003
MALIBU, CA
