TULSA, Okla. – The Pepperdine men's tennis team completed the first day of pre-qualifying matches at the ITA All-American, hosted by the University of Tulsa on Saturday. Matias Sborowitz played in his first matches of 2018, going 1-1 in his 2018 debut.
RESULTS
ROUND of 256
Matias Sborowitz (PEPP) def. Jake Williams (Southern Utah) – 6-1, 6-2
Nicholas Baez (PEPP) def. Fernando Vargas (UAB) – 6-3, 7-5
Enrique Luque Rico (PEPP) def. Austin Abbrat (Texas A&M) – 6-4, 6-3
Tom Moonen (MTSU) def. Pawel Jankowiak (PEPP) – 6-1 6-3
ROUND of 128
Andrei Crapcenco (St. Johns) def. Matias Sborowitz (PEPP) – 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
Carson Haskins (Indiana) def. Enrique Luque Rico (PEPP) – 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
Rana-Roop Singh Bullar (Florida State) def. Nicholas Baez (PEPP) – 6-4, 6-4
PLAY-BY-PLAY
The ITA All-American got off to a good start for the Waves, with three of the four members who traveled getting wins in their first match. Nicholas Baez (Somis, Calif./Laurel Springs HS) defeated Fernando Vargas from UAB by a score of 6-3, 7-5. Enrique Luque Rico (Cordoba, Spain/American International School of Mallorca) battled against Austin Abbrat of Texas A&M, taking the 6-4, 6-3 victory. Matias Sborowitz rolled through Jake Williams of Southern Utah, 6-1, 6-2 in his first match. Pawel Jankowiak (Poznan, Poland/UC Riverside) dropped his match against Tom Moonen of MTSU 6-1, 6-3.
The second round was tougher for the Waves, who did not earn a victory, but battled hard in two three set losses. Andrei Crapcenco of St. John's defeated Sborowitz in three sets, with Sborowitz taking the first set 6-2, but Crapcenco found some momentum and took the final two sets, 6-3 and 6-4. In his second match, Luque Rico also won his first set by way of 6-3, but fell to his opponent 6-3, 6-3 in the final two sets. Rana-Roop Singh Bullar defeated Baez in straight 6-4 sets.
QUOTABLE
"It's been a long road back for Mati after a couple of injury riddled seasons," said head coach Adam Schaechterle of senior Sborowitz. "He's been consistent in practice with his effort and intensity, and we are seeing his confidence grow day after day. He's close to a breakthrough. He had chances today that he wasn't able to execute, but if he continues at his work rate he's going to have a great senior season."
TOMORROW
Jankowiak will be the only Wave to play in the consolation bracket, with his match against Nicolas Preito of New Mexico beginning at 8 am local time.
FOLLOW
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