NCAA Tournament Opener: Waves Face SIUE in First Round Matchup on Friday

The Pepperdine women’s tennis team is gearing up for their 40th NCAA Tournament run, starting on Friday at 1 p.m. at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center in Malibu. The Waves, seeded 6th, will face off against SIUE in their first-round match.

Pepperdine has the advantage of playing at home for the first two rounds, and potentially the Super Regionals if they advance. The team is on a six-match win streak, all of which have been sweeps. They recently clinched their tenth consecutive outright West Coast Conference Tournament title, propelling them to fifth in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association polls.

The Waves boast a deep and experienced roster, with five ranked singles players and the nation’s number-two doubles team. Players like Savannah Broadus, Lisa Zaar, and Janice Tjen have been instrumental in the team’s success, with several players set to compete in the NCAA Singles Championships later this month.

On the other side, SIUE is making just their third appearance in the NCAA Tournament and is coming off a strong performance in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship. The Cougars have been dominant throughout the season and will look to pull off an upset against Pepperdine.

This matchup marks the first-ever meeting between Pepperdine and SIUE, adding an element of unpredictability to the match. With both teams riding high on recent successes, Friday’s match promises to be an exciting clash of talent and determination on the tennis court.