College Tennis News - Waves Punch Ticket to ITA National Indoors with 5-2 Win vs. Florida State

MALIBU, Calif. – The #7 Pepperdine men’s tennis team capped the weekend with a 5-2 triumph over #33 Florida State to advance to the ITA National Indoor Team Championship next month in Seattle, Wash. The Waves defeated both Denver and the Seminoles during the ITA Kick-Off Weekend to earn one of 15 available spots at the national tournament.

The doubles competition was a closely contested affair, but the Seminoles (7-1) emerged with the point after wins at No. 1 and No. 2. Finn Tearney (Wellington, New Zealand/Wellington College) and Francis Alcantara (Cagayan de Oro, Philippines/Fresno State) were up a break 3-2 vs. #27-ranked Andres Bucaro and Benjamin Lock, but ultimately dropped an 8-4 decision.

Sebastian Fanselow (Essen, Germany/Kaplan College Prep) and Alex Sarkissian (Glendale, Calif./Glendale CC) fought back from an 0-5 deficit but came up just short versus Anderson Reed and Jordan Kelly-Houston, 8-5

The early setback did not hinder the Waves, however, and Pepperdine came out strong in singles.

Sarkissian won in convincing fashion, downing Kelly-Houston 6-1, 6-0 to tie the team score up at 1-all. The junior transfer has been dominant in every appearance this season, allowing just six total games in three matches.

Tearney avenged his loss to Lock in doubles with a straight-set 6-2, 6-2 triumph in singles to give the Waves the lead.

In the No. 4 match, Alcantara edged out Christian Gonzalez Mendez 6-4, 6-3.

It was David Sofaer (Bellevue Hill, Australia/Sydney Distance Education HS) who clinched the dual match victory for Pepperdine (4-0). The junior fought game-for-game in the first set vs. Bucaro but dominated in the tiebreaker 7-1 to take the frame. The momentum rolled in Sofaer’s favor in the second set as he went on to win 6-2.

An isolated rain shower hit the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center moments after Sofaer secured the win, but it went away as quickly as it arrived. After a brief break to dry the courts, Fanselow resumed action against Dominic Cotrone.

Fanselow was up 5-1 but down love-30 and serving in the final set when play was suspended. Although Cotrone won that game and held serve, Fanselow fought back from 15-40 to hold serve the next time around to secure the three-set victory.

With the win, the Waves have punched their ticket to the ITA National Indoor Team Championship in Feb. 15-18 in Seattle, Wash.

Pepperdine’s next match is schedule for Sunday, Feb. 3 vs. Texas. Additionally, the Waves and Seminoles battle in a rematch on Feb. 24 in Bradenton, Fla.

Florida State vs Pepperdine
Jan 27, 2013 at Malibu, Calif.
(Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center)

#7 Pepperdine 5, #33 Florida State 2
Singles
1. #6 Sebastian Fanselow (PEP) def. #107 Dominic Cotrone (FS) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
2. Alex Sarkissian (PEP) def. Jordan Kelly-Houston (FS) 6-1, 6-0
3. Finn Tearney (PEP) def. #99 Benjamin Lock (FS) 6-2, 6-2
4. Francis Alcantara (PEP) def. C. Gonzalez Mendez (FS) 6-4, 6-3
5. Anderson Reed (FS) def. Mousheg Hovhannisyan (PEP) 6-3, 1-6, 5-0, retired
6. David Sofaer (PEP) def. Andres Bucaro (FS) 7-6 (7-1), 6-2

Doubles
1. #27 Andres Bucaro/Benjamin Lock (FS) def. Finn Tearney/Francis Alcantara (PEP) 8-4
2. Jordan Kelly-Houston/Anderson Reed (FS) def. Alex Sarkissian/Sebastian Fanselow (PEP) 8-5
3. Mousheg Hovhannisyan/David Sofaer (PEP) vs. Dominic Cotrone/Michael Rinaldi (FS) 6-7, unfinished

Match Notes:
Florida State 7-1; National ranking #33
Pepperdine 4-0; National ranking #7
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,3,4,6)