Complete Results

MALIBU, Calif. - The #53 Pepperdine men's tennis team saw its five-match win streak come to an end after suffering a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to #51 Tulsa. It was the Waves' seventh-straight 4-3 decision.

The Waves (6-4) dropped the doubles point, but once again battled back in singles. It would not fall in Pepperdine's favor today, however, as the final match to finish would be won by Tulsa. The Waves are now 5-2 in their last seven matches - all decided by a 4-3 tally.

The afternoon began in doubles. Guilherme Hadlich (Balneário Camboriú, Brazil/Colégio Energia) and Rakshay Thakkar (Pune, India/St. Vincent's High School) blanked #33-ranked Carlos Bautista and Alejandro Espejo at No. 1 to win their third straight. It was the Wave duo's first win over a ranked opponent this season.

Tulsa got one back courtesy of Mitchell Pritchard and Dylan McCloskey at No. 3, leaving the doubles point dependent on the outcome of the match at No. 2.

Pedro Iamachkine (Lima, Peru/Nebraska HS) and Lautaro Pane (Puerto Madryn, Argentina/SEADEA) battled back from an early deficit to get back on serve at 5-5 vs. Or Ram-Harel and Matthew Kirby. After breaking at love to take a 6-5 lead, the Waves were unable to serve out the match and went to a tiebreaker. With the momentum in Tulsa's favor following the big break of serve, the visitors won 7-1 in the tiebreaker to secure the doubles point.

Iamachkine scored a point for Pepperdine with a dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory over Mitchell Pritchard. It was the freshman's sixth-consecutive win, but his first straight-set triumph in the span.

Thakkar followed, bouncing back from a 6-2 loss in the first against Juan Matias-Gonzalez to win 6-0, 6-4. The senior Wave broke serve to end the match with a brilliant lob shot that brushed the end line.

The visitors evened the score when Espejo dispatched Hadlich in three sets.

Tom Hill (Birmingham, England/K12 International Academy) elevated Pepperdine to 3-2 lead. The sophomore bounced back from a narrow loss in the first set tiebreaker to defeat Kirby 6-3, 6-2.

Tulsa pushed back, banking a three-set win at No. 6 to even the match at 3-3.

The deciding match came down to Stefan Menichella (Santa Barbara, Calif./University HS) and Ram-Harel at No. 1. The Hurricane ace, ranked #71, edged Menichella in the first set tiebreaker, but the Wave won set two, 6-3, to extend the match.

Menichella battled to get back on serve after falling behind a break in the third. Down 2-4 and tied a deuce, Menichella hit a ball near the end line that appeared to give him the break, but the ball was ruled out.

The Wave continued to battle, holding serve to make it 5-3. Menichella fought off two match points in the next game, but couldn't come up with the break of serve and fell 6-3.

It was Tulsa's second-straight 4-3 match of the weekend, having upset #1 USC on Saturday.

Pepperdine's next match is schedule for Thursday, March 5 with a neutral site match vs. William & Mary at San Diego State. The Waves continue the week with the Pacific Coast Doubles Championship on March 6-8.

Tulsa vs Pepperdine
Mar 01, 2015 at Malibu, Calif.
(Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center)

#51 Tulsa 4, #53 Pepperdine 3
Singles
1. #71 Or Ram-Harel (TULSA) def. Stefan Menichella (PEP) 7-6 (7), 3-6, 6-3
2. Alejandro Espejo (TULSA) def. Guilherme Hadlich (PEP) 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
3. Rakshay Thakkar (PEP) def. Juan Matias-Gonzalez (TULSA) 2-6, 6-0, 6-4
4. Tom Hill (PEP) def. Matthew Kirby (TULSA) 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 6-2
5. Pedro Iamachkine (PEP) def. Mitchell Pritchard (TULSA) 6-1, 6-1
6. Dylan McCloskey (TULSA) def. Luca Marquard (PEP) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3

Doubles
1. Guilherme Hadlich/Rakshay Thakkar (PEP) def. #33 Carlos Bautista/Alejandro Espejo (TULSA) 6-0
2. Or Ram-Harel/Matthew Kirby (TULSA) def. Pedro Iamachkine/Lautaro Pane (PEP) 7-6 (1)
3. Mitchell Pritchard/Dylan McCloskey (TULSA) def. Stefan Menichella/Tom Hill (PEP) 6-3

Match Notes:
Tulsa 10-6; National ranking #51
Pepperdine 6-4; National ranking #53
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (5,3,2,4,6,1)