Complete Results

LOS ANGELES - Despite playing without its No. 1 player and losing the doubles point, the #53-ranked Pepperdine men's tennis team pulled off a thrilling 4-2 upset victory over #34 Boise State to close action at the ITA Kick-Off Weekend. Sophomore Tom Hill provided the dual-clinching point with a three-set win in singles.

The Waves (1-1) have been without sophomore Stefan Menichella (Santa Barbara, Calif./University HS), who was anticipated to play at No. 1 singles after going a team-best 8-2 in the fall. With everyone moved up a spot in the lineup, the youthful Pepperdine squad - with just two seniors and 10 underclassmen - proved they are a team to be reckoned with in 2015.

"I am incredibly proud of this young team. The guys really came together and stepped up to pull off a gutsy win against a tough Boise State team," said first-year head coach Marcelo Ferreira. "They showed a lot of resilience after a tough loss last night, and were able to bounce back and play great tennis. Playing without a No. 1 player is always a challenge, but the boys showed that our team has depth and that they are ready to rise to the occasion."

After losing the doubles point, Pepperdine bounced back in a big way in singles, winning first sets on four of the six courts.

Rakshay Thakkar (Pune, India/St. Vincent's HS) put away a straight-set 6-0, 7-5 decision on court two, solidifying his spot as one of the most improved players from last season. The senior was in an out of the singles lineup as a junior, playing mostly from the No. 5 and No. 6 positions. This season he ranked second on the team, only to Menichella, with six wins during the fall season.

Boise State won at No. 5, but freshman Lautaro Pane (Puerto Madryn, Argentina/SEADEA) charted a 7-5, 6-0 win vs. Brian Foley at No. 4 to knot the dual score up at 2-2.

Guilherme Hadlich (Balneário Camboriú, Brazil/Colégio Energia) proved up to the task of playing at No. 1 and dispatched Thomas Tenreiro 6-4, 7-6 (1).

Of the two matches remaining, Pedro Iamachkine (Lima, Peru/Nebraska HS) was on his way to a third set after winning the second 6-1, while Tom Hill (Birmingham, England/K12 International Academy) was a break ahead in his final frame.

Hill reached the finish line first, holding off Abe Hewko 6-4 in set three to clinch the dual for the Waves, 4-2.

"We are looking forward to a productive week of practice to get ready for South Florida and Boise State again," Ferreira said.

The Waves play at home for the first time in 2015 next week, hosting both USF and a rematch against the Broncos. Pepperdine and the Bulls square off on Saturday, Jan. 31 before taking on Boise State on Sunday, Feb. 1. Both duals are slated for a 1 p.m. start.

Pepperdine vs Boise State
Jan 24, 2015 at Los Angeles, CA
(Los Angeles Tennis Center)

#53 Pepperdine 4, #34 Boise State 2
Singles
1. Guilherme Hadlich (PEP) def. Thomas Tenreiro (BSU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-1)
2. Rakshay Thakkar (PEP) def. Garrett Patton (BSU) 6-0, 7-5
3. Toby Mitchell (BSU) vs. Pedro Iamachkine (PEP) 7-6, 1-6, 1-3, unfinished
4. Lautaro Pane (PEP) def. Brian Foley (BSU) 7-5, 6-0
5. Lewis Roskilly (BSU) def. Luca Marquard (PEP) 6-2, 6-4
6. Tom Hill (PEP) def. Abe Hewko (BSU) 6-4, 1-6, 6-4

Doubles
1. Toby Mitchell/Garrett Patton (BSU) def. Guilherme Hadlich/Lautaro Pane (PEP) 7-5
2. Tom Hill/Rakshay Thakkar (PEP) def. Lewis Roskilly/Thomas Tenreiro (BSU) 6-4
3. Brian Foley/Abe Hewko (BSU) def. Pedro Iamachkine/Luca Marquard (PEP) 6-2

Match Notes:
Pepperdine 1-1; National ranking #53
Boise State 1-2; National ranking #34
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (2,5,4,1,6)