MALIBU, California – The #8 Pepperdine women's tennis program begins a stretch of four matches in seven days with a midweek matchup at #30 UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday afternoon.
MATCH 14: #8 Pepperdine (10-3) vs. #30 UCSB (8-5, at #24 Stanford on Tues.) | Wednesday, March 23 | 3:00 p.m. | Arnhold Tennis Center | Santa Barbara, Calif.
SERIES HISTORY: Pepperdine holds a commanding 33-7 series lead against UCSB, having won the last 17 meetings. The Waves last fell to the Gauchos in 1989, and Pepperdine has not been defeated in Santa Barbara since 1987.
COVERAGE: A link to live video is available at PepperdineWaves.com. Scores will be updated periodically on the web and on Twitter at @WavesTennis.
WAVES IN THE RANKINGS
As a team, Pepperdine is ranked eighth in the ITA computer ratings and eighth in the Tennis Channel/USTA college poll. Updated team rankings will be released by the ITA Wednesday morning.
SCOUTING THE WAVES
In its only match of the week, Pepperdine dominated #18 USC on Saturday, defeating the Trojans 5-2 in Malibu. The Waves got the doubles point, while #18 Shiori Fukuda, #22 Lisa Zaar, #88 Janice Tjen and #109 Savannah Broadus all were victorious in singles. Pepperdine is also represented in ITA rankings by Broadus/Tjen (#9), Victoria Flores/Zaar (#14), Flores/Tjen (#40), Flores (#48), Taisiya Pachkaleva (#39) and Nikki Redelijk (#98). Updated individual rankings by the ITA will be released Wednesday morning.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Since starting the season 1-4, the Gauchos have won seven of their last eight to settle at 8-5. Shakhnoza Khatamova is the lone Gaucho ranked in singles by the ITA, coming in at #91. Two doubles pairs are ranked as well: Amelia Honer/Kira Reuter (#61) and Khatamova/Elizaveta Volodko (#66).
FOLLOW: Follow @WavesTennis on Facebook and Twitter for immediate updates, results and more. Go to pepperdinewaves.com for all information, releases and schedules.
