Feb. 11, 2004

MALIBU, Calif. - The 32nd-ranked Pepperdine University men's tennis team won both ends of its match on Wednesday afternoon at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center to improve to 5-2 overall on the year. The Waves swept the doubles point and won four out of six singles dual matches as Pepperdine posted a 5-2 win over the visiting San Diego State Aztecs.

"Our team came out ready to play and got off to a great start," Pepperdine assistant coach Per Nilsson commented. "Everyone on this team knows the importance of playing hard and I think they are contributing as best they can. We had a few mental lapses at times, but it's still early and the guys will learn from their mistakes and move on. Overall, it was good day."

After topping Felix Hardt and Ryan Redondo in No. 1 doubles, 8-3, the seventh-ranked team of Calle Hansen and Pedro Rico swapped spots in the singles lineup for strategic reasons. Rico, ranked No. 31 nationally, played in the top position and earned a respectable victory over Hardt, 6-4, 6-3. Meanwhile, things didn't work in No. 29 Hansen's favor as Redondo upset him, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.

"I think Calle would be the first to admit he didn't play like himself today," added Nilsson. "It was an interesting situation because Redondo is a former doubles partner of his at Pepperdine before he transferred to San Diego State so they knew each other well. He seemed to have come out playing nervous and he struggled a bit. However, Calle's a tough competitor and he'll only use this as a motivation next time."

The No. 2 Waves pair of Scott Doerner and Alexandre Herrera kept their perfect 7-0 record intact by winning with ease over Markus Dickhardt and Michael Coehlo, 8-2. The final Pepperdine team comprised of Kevin Borzenski and Alexis Rafidison cruised to an 8-5 defeat over Daniel Jung and Dantia Hayes, 8-5.

In singles action, the score 6-4, 6-3 was the pick of the day as five of six matches either recorded that score or its reciprocal. The Waves earned straight-set triumphs in the third, fifth and sixth spot starting with Doerner. The sophomore from Melbourne, Australia, toppled Jung (6-3, 6-4), Alexis Rafidison dropped Dickhardt (6-4, 6-3), and Richard Johnson took care of Hayes (6-3, 6-4). Armando Carrascosa earned the only middle lineup win for his team after knocking off Herrera, 6-4, 6-3.

Pepperdine returns to action Saturday at No. 11 California. First serve is scheduled at noon.

DOUBLES
#1 . . . Hansen/Rico def. Hardt/Redondo, 8-3
#2. . . Doerner/Herrera def. Dickhardt/Coehlo, 8-2
#3. . . Borzenski/Rafidison def. Jung/Hayes, 8-5
SINGLES
#1. . . Rico def. Hardt 6-4, 6-3
#2. . . Redondo def. Hansen 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
#3. . . Doerner def. Jung 6-3, 6-4
#4. . . Carrascosa def. Herrera 6-4, 6-3
#5. . . Rafidison def. Dickhardt 6-4, 6-3
#6. . . Johnson def. Hayes 6-3, 6-4