MALIBU, Calif. – The 27^th-ranked Pepperdine men's tennis squad is set to head down the freeway for a showdown with the #8 USC Trojans in Los Angeles on Friday.
 
MATCH #8: #27 Pepperdine at #8 USC | Friday, March 5 | 3 p.m. | Los Angeles, Calif. | Live Stream & Scoring
 
COVERAGE: Live video and scores will be available at the link above, as well as periodic updates via @PeppTennis.
 
SCOUTING SC
Currently 10-3, the Trojans came into the 2021 dual season ranked #1, earning the duties of hosting the 2021 ITA Kickoff Weekend. USC defeated the likes of UNLV and UCLA to win the weekend. In the gap week before the National Team Indoors, the Trojans beat LMU 7-0, Saint Mary's 7-0, UC Irvine 7-0, San Diego State 7-0 and then-#19 Kentucky 4-3. Their next real challenge came against unranked Illinois who upset USC 4-1, followed by then-#5 Texas and then-#3 TCU both at 4-3 losses. Their most recent match against UCLA ended in a 4-3 thriller.
 
In the preseason rankings, USC's Daniel Cukierman took the #1 spot in singles, followed by Riley Smith at #19, Mor Bulis at #29, Ryder Jackson at #79 and Stefan Dostanic at #104. In doubles, the pair of R. Smith and Cukierman sit atop the rankings as the only Trojan tandem in the ranks.
 
SURF REPORT
The #27 Waves are looking to get back in the win column after a 4-2 loss to #5 TCU last weekend. The guys pushed every single match to three sets except one, which Pietro Fellin bested TCU's Paroulek in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4.
 
Corrado Summaria earned a win on court five over Juan Martin to put the Waves even with the Frogs, but TCU wins on four and two sealed the 4-2 deal over Pepperdine.
 
UP NEXT
Pepperdine will stay on trend with Los Angeles-area schools and travel to Westwood for a showdown with #17 UCLA on Wednesday, March 10.