Jan. 21, 2005

Malibu, Calif. - The courts at Pepperdine's Ralph-Straus Tennis Center will see more than their share of action Saturday as they host both men's and women's Pepperdine tennis action.

The day's competition begins at 11:00 a.m. when the women's team (1-0) takes on No. 39 Sacramento State. The Waves holds the edge in the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll with the No. 37 ranking.

The Hornets, who are led by No. 17 Margartia Karnaukova, have yet to compete in a dual match this year. Pepperdine is a modest 1-0 having defeated UC Irvine in Tuesday's opener, 4-3.

The 27th ranked Pepperdine men's tennis team will take the courts at 2:30 p.m. in their season opener when they square off against West Coast Conference foe Saint Mary's. Head coach Adam Steinberg's Waves are 9-0 all time against the Gaels.

Pepperdine's men's team is in search of its 15th consecutive WCC Championship. The promising squad is headed by No. 13 Pedro Rico who captured his first collegiate tournament win last weekend winning the National Collegiate Tennis Classic.