Men's Tennis History

Pepperdine Men's Tennis Media Guide

The Pepperdine men's tennis program has long dominated the West Coast Conference, and reached the pinnacle of its sport by capturing the 2006 NCAA championship.

2006 NCAA Champions

The Waves have rolled to 20 consecutive WCC titles and 41 overall since 1958, while none of their competitors have won more than two league crowns. All-time, the program has won more than 74% of its matches, posting a 1,023-353 record since statistics were first kept in 1958.

Pepperdine's distinguished tennis history began in the 1940s, and the Waves found early success when the program won the 1952 NAIA Championships. After the program was elevated to NCAA Division I status in 1966, Pepperdine's national prominence began. Under the tutelage of Allen Fox, the Waves became a household name in collegiate tennis in the 1980s. In 1982, Fox led Pepperdine to its first NCAA championship match. Four years later, Fox again led Pepperdine to the title match.

The Waves have made 35 appearances at the NCAA Championships since 1974, and have a current streak of 14 seasons (21 seasons including regionals, which were briefly held in the 1990s).

Adam Steinberg

The third time was the charm for the Waves in 2006, as the Waves reached the NCAA final and broke through for its first national championship in men's tennis with a 4-2 victory over top-ranked and previously unbeaten Georgia in Palo Alto, Calif.

The Waves have had success in the NCAA singles and doubles tournament as well. Robbie Weiss won the singles title in 1988 while Kelly Jones was part of both of Pepperdine's NCAA doubles titles (1984 with Jerome Jones and 1985 with Carlos DiLaura).

Over the years, the school has produced many remarkably talented players who have moved on to professional careers as players and coaches. Since 1945, the Waves have had 77 All-American selections. A Pepperdine student-athlete has been named the WCC's Player of the Year every year since 1998, when it was first awarded.

Brad Gilbert is one of Pepperdine's most famous tennis products. A 1982 All-American who reached the NCAA singles final, he won 20 major tournaments as a professional and was ranked as high as #4 in the world in 1990. He won a silver medal at the 1998 Olympics in singles play. As a coach, Gilbert is known as one of the best, guiding both Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick to Grand Slam titles.

Brad Gilbert

A three-time All-American, Glenn Michibata spent 10 years playing as a professional and climbed as high as No. 48 in 1986. He is currently in his 11th year as Princeton's head men's tennis coach.

After his playing days, Weiss turned pro and was a top 100 player. Kelly Jones achieved the world's #1 ranking in doubles with Rick Leach in 1992 and was a finalist in three Grand Slam doubles events.

One player with an outstanding career that is still active is four-time All-American Simon Aspelin, who has won 10 career titles in doubles, including the 2007 U.S. Open. He captured a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics for his native Sweden.

In addition to Gilbert and Aspelin, other Pepperdine tennis Olympians include DiLaura (Peru/1984), Martin Laurendeau (Canada/1988), Kelly Jones (USA/1984), Michibata (Canada/1988), Augustine Moreno (Mexico/1988) and Andrew Sznajder (Canada/1992).

 

2006 NCAA CHAMPIONS

 

The Pepperdine men's tennis program reached the pinnacle of its sport in 2006, as the Waves captured the national championship at Stanford's Taube Tennis Center.

Early in the tournament, the Waves swept aside Montana State (first round), TCU (second round), Florida (Sweet 16) and UCLA (quarterfinals).

The Waves had lost their only two matches of the regular season to Texas and Georgia. In the semifinals, the Waves beat the Longhorns, 4-1, and in the championship, Pepperdine upset the top-ranked and previously unbeaten Bulldogs, 4-2.

Head coach Adam Steinberg's squad led the Waves to an incredible 36-2 season, which marks the most wins ever accumulated by a national championship team.

Pedro Rico, Ivor Lovrak, Andre Begemann and Omar Altmann were named to the All-Tournament Team in singles, while all three of Pepperdine's doubles teams earned the honor. Lovrak was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Performer.

Head Coach Adam Steinberg

2011-12 Season

Pepperdine Points

Tennis Links