MALIBU, California – The #20 Pepperdine men's tennis program was chosen to win the West Coast Conference in its preseason poll, as announced by the league on Thursday
 
The Waves received more recognition by the league as Daniel De Jonge and Tim Zeitvogel were chosen for the WCC Men's Tennis Preseason Team.
 
De Jonge (Vlissingen, Netherlands), ranked 31st nationally in singles by the ITA, was the ITA Southwest Regional Most Improved Player in 2022 and was an All-WCC first-team honoree in singles and doubles. Following an outstanding season, he competed in the first round of the NCAA Singles Championship. This fall, the graduate student was 4-5 in singles play and 11-7 in doubles competition.
 
Zeitvogel (Baden-Baden, Germany), the 91st ranked singles player in the country, was All-WCC first team in singles in 2022 and was honorable mention in doubles as well. Throughout the fall, the graduate student was 7-6 in singles and 12-6 in doubles.
 
De Jonge and Zeitvogel, ranked 34th by the ITA in doubles, advanced to the finals of the ITA Southwest Regional and competed in the ITA National Fall Championships.
 
Last season, the Waves took second in the WCC regular season standings and lost a tight 4-3 match to top-seeded San Diego in the WCC Tournament final.
 
The full poll and preseason team are listed below.
 
Pepperdine begins its season in nine days with a road match at UCLA on Saturday, January 21. First serve is slated for 1 p.m.
 
WCC Men's Tennis Preseason Poll
 
Team                             Points
1. Pepperdine - 81 points (9)
2. San Diego - 70 points (1)
3. Gonzaga - 61 points
4. Santa Clara - 56 points
5. Portland - 53 points
6. Pacific - 41 points
7. LMU - 28 points
T-8. BYU - 22 points
T-8. Saint Mary's - 22 points
10. San Francisco - 16 points
(First Place Votes)
 
WCC Men's Tennis Preseason Team
Daniel De Jonge, Pepperdine
Sema Pankin, Portland
Oliver Tarvet, San Diego
Iiro Vasa, San Diego
James Watt, Saint Mary's
Tim Zeitvogel, Pepperdine