April 27, 2001
The West Coast Conference opens the 2001 men's and women's tennis championships this morning. Play will continue through Sunday, as the men play in Malibu at Pepperdine University while the women's tournament is hosted by the University of San Diego.
The winning teams will receive the league's automatic bids to the respective NCAA Tournament fields.
The Bronco men, 13-8 on the season, are the tournament's third seed. They open play against sixth-seeded Loyola Marymount at the Ralphs Straus Tennis Center. The women, 11-9 overall and seeded fifth, open against fourth-seeded Portland at the West Courts. Both matches begin at their respective venues on Friday at 9 a.m.
On the men's side, 15th-ranked Pepperdine is the team beat. The Waves have won 10 straight conference titles, and 26 of the last 28. Pepperdine went 15-8 in dual action this year and have two singles players and one doubles pair ranked nationally. San Diego is also ranked nationally, 55th in the April 18 edition of the ITA rankings. They won back-to-back league crowns in 1989-90, interrupting Pepperdine's run. The Toreros have won six of their last nine matches and are 11-8 overall.
No. 20 Pepperdine is also the defending champion on the women's side, with three singles players ranked and the nation's second best doubles tandem. Host San Diego is ranked 55th while LMU has been as high as No. 58 in the ITA poll. These three teams have been the league's top three finishers in the WCC Tournament since 1988.
If the Bronco men win this morning, they will play the San Diego/Gonzaga winner at 1 p.m. on Saturday. A loss would place SCU in a 9 a.m. match vs. the loser of the San Diego/Gonzaga match. On the women's side, a win would have the Broncos facing the Pepperdine/San Francisco winner tomorrow at 1 p.m., while a loss would put SCU in a 9 a.m. contest against the loser of the Pepperdine/San Francisco match.
Men's Schedule
Friday, April 27
9 a.m.
No. 3 Santa Clara vs. No. 6 Loyola Marymount
11 a.m.
No. 2 San Diego vs. No. 7 Gonzaga
1 p.m.
No. 4 Portland vs. No. 5 Saint Mary's
3 p.m.
No. 1 Pepperdine vs. No. 8 San Francisco
Women's Schedule
Friday, April 27
9 a.m.
No. 1 Pepperdine vs. No. 8 San Francisco
No. 4 Portland vs. No. 5 Santa Clara
1 p.m.
No. 2 San Diego vs. No. 7 Saint Mary's
No. 3 Loyola Marymount vs. No. 6 Gonzaga
