April 5, 2005

San Bruno, Calif. - Pepperdine's Pedro Rico has been named the West Coast Conference's 'Player of the Month' for the month of March, conference officials announced Tuesday. Rico joins teammate Scott Doerner in the only players to earn the men's singles honor this season.

The 2004 All-American notched five consecutive wins to close out the month of March and posted an overall 5-1 singles record, playing in the Waves' strong number two spot. Rico played a key role in the team's undefeated 7-0 month, which catapulted the Waves to No. 7 in the ITA rankings, their highest of the season.

Highlighting Rico's big month was a three-set win over Illinois' No. 24 Kevin Anderson. Rico won 0-6, 7-6, 7-6 to help Pepperdine to a 5-2 upset of the No. 2 Illini. Earlier in the month, the Alicante, Spain native defeated No. 59 Lennart Maack of California.

Rico and the Waves will play visiting Fresno State on Wednesday at the Ralph-Straus Tennis Center beginning at 1:00 p.m.