Postgame Quotes: UCLA 1, Maryland 4 (Los Angeles Regional Game Four)Postgame Quotes: UCLA 1, Maryland 4 (Los Angeles Regional Game Four)

Pepperdine Defeats Minnesota, 4-3 in NCAA First Round

Bruin Athletics

LOS ANGELES - Despite dropping the doubles point, Pepperdine managed to win four of six singles matches Friday, downing Minnesota, 4-3 in the first round of the NCAA Women's Tennis Regionals at UCLA's

LOS ANGELES - Despite dropping the doubles point, Pepperdine managed to win four of six singles matches Friday, downing Minnesota, 4-3 in the first round of the NCAA Women's Tennis Regionals at UCLA's Los Angeles Tennis Center. With the victory, Pepperdine (13-13) advances to Saturday's second round and will face the winner of 11th-seeded UCLA and IUPUI. Minnesota ends its season 18-7 overall.

Minnesota started the day strong by capturing doubles victories at court Nos. 2 and 3 for the one point awarded for doubles play. After splitting on the top two courts, the point was decided at the No. 3 position, where Michaela Havelkova and Brandi Watts defeated Pepperdine's Natalie Braverman/Karin Schlapbach, 8-4.

Singles play was a much different story however, as Pepperdine came out and won the first set on five of six courts. First to finish was court No. 3, where Pepperdine's Merve Asimgil cruised to a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Amy Thomas. The Waves took a 2-1 lead when Schlapbach defeated Nischela Reddy, 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 5 position.

The Waves then took a commanding 3-1 lead when Veronica Koksova knocked off Minnesota's Watts, 6-1, 6-3 at the No. 6 spot.

Facing defeat, the Golden Gophers responded with a pair of victories at the top two singles positions. At No. 1 singles, Amanda Buergis battled back from a set down to defeat Braverman, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3. Next to her on court No. 2, teammate Valerie Vladea defeated Pepperdine's Charlotte Vernaz, 6-1, 6-4 to tie the dual-match score at 3-3.

All attention then focused on court No. 4, where Pepperdine's Monika Horvath clinched it for the Waves, downing Havelkova, 6-0, 6-7(5), 6-2. 

Doubles
1. Horvath/Vernaz (Pepp) def. Buergis/Reddy (MN)	8-4
2. Thomas/Vladea (MN) def. Asimgil/Koksova (Pepp)	8-3
3. Havelkova/Watts (NM) def. Braverman/Schlapbach (Pepp)	8-4
Minnesota Wins Doubles Point


Singles	
1. (98) Angela Buergis (MN) def. (64) Natalie Braverman (Pepp)	1-6, 6-1, 6-3
2. Valerie Vladea (MN) def. (77) Charlotte Vernaz (Pepp)	6-1, 6-4
3. Merve Asimgil (Pepp) def. Amy Thomas (MN)	6-0, 6-2
4. Monika Horvath (Pepp) def. Michaela Havelkova (MN)	6-0, 6-7(5), 6-2
5. Karin Schlapbach (Pepp) def. Nischela Reddy (MN)	6-2, 6-2
6. Veronica Koksova (Pepp) def. Brandi Watts (MN)	6-1, 6-3


Order of Finish (Singles): 3,5,6,2,1,4