INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — The No. 27 Pepperdine men's tennis team had a chance to bring some hardware home on Sunday afternoon but came up short in the UTR Sports Collegiate Championships by a final of 4-1 to No. 8 Baylor. The Waves fell to 9-7, while Baylor improved to 12-6.
 
The Bears jumped out to a 1-0 advantage after tallying the doubles point in convincing fashion. Alekandru Chiritas and Zsombor Velcz defeated the No. 83-ranked duo of Aleksa Pisaric and Lasse Poertner 6-1, before Luc Koenig and Connor Van Schalkwyk beat Edward Winter and Hugh Winter.
 
Edward Winter had his match against No. 12 Devin Badenhorst abandoned (6-7 (3-7), 4-5). Winter forced a tiebreaker in the first set but dropped it 7-3.
 
On flight two, No. 95 Lasse Poertner came up short against No. 53 Zsombor Velca in straight sets (2-6, 6-7 (4-7)) despite also forcing a tiebreaker in the second set. Velcz's victory was the clinching point in the match.
 
No. 119 Aleksa Pisaric went three sets against No. 27 Connor Van Schalkwyk, knotting the score at 1-1 after winning set two 6-3. Van Schalkwyk caught fire in the third set, winning 6-1.
 
On flight four, Gustavo Ribeiro de Almeida's match against No. 91 Alexandru Chirita was abandoned during a crucial third set (6-1, 3-6, 3-5).
 
The bright spot of the day for the Waves was Maxi Homberg getting Pepperdine on the board with a straight-set victory over Luc Koenig (6-3, 7-5).
 
Photos Photiades entered the singles lineup after replacing David Fix, who was originally penciled in until the conclusion of the doubles matches. He fell in straight sets to Louis Bowden (2-6, 2-6).
 
RESULTS
Singles
1. No. 12 Devin Badenhorst (BU) vs. Edward Winter (PEPP): 7-6 (7-3), 5-4 (abandoned)
2. No. 53 Zsombor Velca (BU) def. No. 95 Lasse Poertner (PEPP): 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)
3. No. 27 Connor Van Schalkwyk (BU) def. No. 119 Aleksa Pisaric (PEPP): 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
4. No. 91 Alexandru Chirita (BU) vs. Gustavo Ribeiro de Almeida (PEPP): 1-6, 6-3, 5-3 (abandoned)
5. Maxi Homberg (PEPP) def. Luck Koenig (BU): 6-3, 7-5
6. Louis Bowden (BU) def. Photos Photiades (PEPP): 6-2, 6-2
Order of finish: 6,5,3,2
 
Doubles
1. Alexandru Chirita and Zsombor Velcz (BU) def. No. 83 Aleksa Pisaric and Lasse Poertner (PEPP): 6-1
2. Luc Koenig and Connor Van Schalkwyk (BU) def. Edward Winter and Hugh Winter (PEPP): 6-2
3. Maxi Homberg and Gustavo Ribeiro de Almeida (PEPP) vs. Blake Anderson and Devin Badenhorst (BU): 4-3, abandoned
Order of finish: 1,2
 
The Waves will have a couple of weeks before their next match, which is at Pacific on March 27 to begin seven consecutive West Coast Conference matchups.
 
ABOUT PEPPERDINE MEN'S TENNIS
Pepperdine men's tennis has a longstanding tradition of success, highlighted by an NCAA Championship in 2006 which came 54 years after its first NAIA Championship in 1952. Robbie Weiss recorded the program's first NCAA singles championship in 1988 after the program saw doubles national championships in 1984 and 1985. 44-time WCC Champions, Pepperdine has reached 40 NCAA Tournaments and six NCAA Regionals in its history with 53 total All-Americans.
 
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