Jan. 16, 2005

Indian Wells, CA - Pepperdine junior Pedro Rico captured the National Collegiate Tennis Classic on Sunday with a three-set victory over fellow Spaniard Roger Matalonga of Arizona at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California.

Rico, ranked No. 13 nationally in the most recent ITA rankings, defeated Matalonga by scores of 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.

The victory gave Rico a wild card entry into the prestigious Pacific Life Open scheduled for March 9-10 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The tournament will feature many of the world's best tennis players.

"I am very excited for Pedro," head coach Adam Steinberg said. "He played well all weekend and had a great tournament. It was his first college tournament win and we're all really happy for him."

In other men's tennis action freshman Jonas Berg defeated Baylor's Greg Shearer, 6-4, 6-4 in the third and final round of the consolation bracket of the Sherwood Intercollegiate Invitational in Westlake Village on Sunday.

The entire Pepperdine men's tennis team, ranked No. 27 nationally, opens its 2005 spring schedule on Saturday when it hosts Saint Mary's at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center beginning at 1 p.m.