Feb. 12, 2005

Seattle, Wash. - No. 24 Pepperdine travels to Seattle for a huge showdown with the No. 14 Washington Huskies Saturday evening. The Huskies are a perfect 7-0, while the 4-1 Waves look to make up their one blemish that came at the hands of No. 12 USC, 4-3.

The match will feature not only two of the top teams on the west coast, but also a handful of the best players. Pepperdine's No. 13 Pedro Rico is 3-1 this spring, in addition to capturing the crown at the National Tennis Collegiate Classic in January. He is joined at the top of the Waves' lineup by 88th-ranked Scott Doerner. Doerner has been dominant in his five singles matches this season. He has dropped just one set on his way to a 5-0 dual match singles record. Together Rico and Doerner make up the 26th-ranked doubles tandem holding a 4-0 mark.

Washington is led by No. 9 Alex Slovic who has been limited due to an injury. Slovic made his return to singles action last week earning a win in the number two position. In his absence Alex Vlaski has filled the void for the Huskies in the number one spot. Vlaski is 6-0 in dual matches this year, but has faced only one player in the top 100. Vlaski and Christoph Palmanshofer team as Washington's top doubles pair and hold a 4-2 mark.

Senior Alexis Rafidison looks to return to the lineup tonight after sitting out the Waves' 5-2 win over UC Irvine on Wednesday with a groin injury. His return give head coach Adam Steinberg his usual options with other singles players Jonas Berg, Ivor Lovrak and Richard Johnson. Johnson has not dropped a set in his five singles matches playing as high as number four this year.

Washington already holds wins over West Coast Conference teams Portland and San Francisco so the match should provide a gauge as to where the defending WCC Champion Waves stand. The Huskies will also take on Gonzaga and San Diego later in the season. The Huskies hold a 2-1 series lead over the Waves. The teams last met in 2003, when Washington earned a 4-1 victory.

Tonight's match begins the thick of the Waves' schedule as all but one of their remaining matches are against ranked opponents including a February 25 date at defending national champions and top-ranked Baylor.