Pepperdine University
San Diego
Bhargava's Win Lifts Pepperdine over University of San Diego
1/31/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 31, 2011
LOS ANGELES - It came down to the very last singles match, but the #43 Pepperdine women's tennis team was able to defeat the University of San Diego by a score of 4-3 during the final day of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend. Anamika Bhargava scored the dual-clinching point for the Waves, who are now 2-1 overall. The #67 Toreros fall to 1-2 on the season.
The match, which was scheduled for yesterday but postponed due to rain, opened with an 8-3 win from Khunpak Issara (Bangkok, Thailand) and Marie Zalameda (Los Angeles, Calif./Beverly Hills HS) in the top doubles match. Pepperdine secured the doubles point following Bhargava (Collierville, Tenn./Houston HS) and Andrea Oates' (Pretoria, South Africa) 8-5 triumph over Anna Depenau and Stephanie Hoffpauir.
In singles, Arianna Colffer (Corona, Calif./Buena Visa) tallied a point for Pepperdine after she topped Juliette Coupez 6-2, 6-2.
With the Waves up 2-0, the Toreros battled back with wins at the No. 6 and No. 1 match.
In the No. 3 match, Issara dropped the first set, 6-4, to Josymar Escalona before rebounding 6-1, 6-2 to put Pepperdine back on top. The lead did not last, however, as Depenau stole a three-set contest from Oates.
The outcome of the match rested on the shoulders of Bhargava and Laura Claus. Claus took the first frame, but Bhargava claimed a 6-4 second-set win to force a third and deciding set. The senior Wave showed poise and determination, as she allowed just two games in final stanza to clinch the win for Pepperdine.
Bhargava and Issara remain a perfect 3-0 in dual singles matches this season, and put their win streak on the line this Thursday, Feb. 3 for a 1:30 p.m. home dual with UC Irvine.
Players Mentioned
