ED RHEE Junior Jean-Julien Rojer and the
rest of the Bruins plan to show just how well they know today’s
opponent, No. 10 Pepperdine.
By Gilbert Quiñonez
Daily Bruin Contributor
The No. 5 UCLA men’s tennis team will continue a rivalry
with a fellow Southern California team, but it won’t be the
Trojans. No. 10 Pepperdine plays the Bruins today at 1:30 p.m. in
the Los Angeles Tennis Center.
“It’s certainly a good rivalry,” UCLA head
coach Billy Martin said. “(No. 4) USC, UCLA, Pepperdine
““ this is the closest they’ve all been in a
while.”
Pepperdine’s strength starts at the top with Al Garland,
the fifth best player in the nation. With Garland, the Waves are
almost guaranteed at least one win.
“He’s an unbelievable, good player, he’s
incredible,” Martin said.
However, he is beatable. UCLA’s Tobias Clemens beat him in
the preseason, even though Garland had a match point on
Clemens.
Along with Garland, the Bruins know Pepperdine’s players
very well, since they have playing each other frequently over the
years.
“We know most of their players, they’re mostly older
players who have been around for a few years,” junior
Jean-Julien Rojer said.
They’re pretty good, but we should be able to play well
against them.”
“I know them all,” junior Lassi Ketola said.
“They’re very good from one through six.”
Pepperdine might not get the recognition that other top schools
get because they play in the weaker West Coast Conference.
“It might hurt them toward the end of the year,”
Martin said. “Tough competitive matches get you hardened for
the NCAA Tournament. Still, coach (Pete) Smith is smart enough to
realize that and schedule tough non-conference
opponents.”
But the lack of tough opponents in the WCC doesn’t matter
when it comes to UCLA and Pepperdine.
“Count on it being a great match,” Martin said.