May 16, 1998

LAS VEGAS - Top-seeded Pepperdine won four of six singles matches and then wrapped things up in doubles en route to defeating host UNLV 5-2 in the semifinals of the NCAA women's tennis regional Saturday.

The 12th-ranked Waves improved to 21-5 overall while the 30th-ranked Lady Rebels finished the year at 12-13.

"I thought we would have a tough match at three and four and we did," Pepperdine Head Coach Gualberto Escudero said. "I thought we'd have the edge in doubles. We've won doubles to take two or three matches this year so I was confident. We did well in the conditions and didn't let the wind bother us much."

Pepperdine got quick wins from Nadine Rastetter, Annabel Rognon, Angela Lawrence and Zsofia Csapo. UNLV, however, got a point from Veronica Goude and saw Lisa Annebro rally to win in three sets and send the match to doubles play.

The fifth-ranked doubles squad of Csapo and Lawrence then clinched it with an 8-3 win over Gee Gee Garvin and Goude. The other two matches were halted.

"We got beat by a better team," UNLV Head Coach Ola Malmqvist said. "We had two players play great today but Pepperdine was just too good. Overall we came a long way this season moving from in the 70s in the rankings all the way to the regional semifinals."

Pepperdine moves into Sunday's final vs. Southern California, which was a 5-1 winner over San Diego State in the other semifinal.

"Coming into the tournament, I thought the finals would be 5-4 either way," Escudero said. "(USC) is playing tough right now. I hope they're a little tired. I predict it will come down to the doubles."

1998 NCAA WEST REGION WOMEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP--SEMIFINALSPEPPERDINE 5, UNLV 2At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas
SINGLES-1.  Angela Lawrence (PEPP) def. Gee Gee Garvin (UNLV)   6-2, 6-32.  Zsofia Csapo (PEPP) def. Susie Kocsis (UNLV)        6-1, 6-13.  Veronica Goude (UNLV) def. Karoline Borgersen (PEPP)    6-3, 6-04.  Lisa Annebro (UNLV) def. Ann Nguyen (PEPP)      5-7, 6-2, 6-15.  Annabel Rognon (PEPP) def. Britta Gabl (UNLV)       6-4, 6-06.  Nadine Rastetter (PEPP) def. Marie Linusson (UNLV)  6-1, 6-2
DOUBLES--1.  Csapo/Lawrence (PEPP) def. Garvin/Goude (UNLV)              8-3 (clinching match)2.  Borgesen/Rognon (PEPP) vs. Kocsis/Marcella Valkenhoff (UNLV)    Halted3.  Annebro/Gabl vs. Rastetter/Yael Tobi (PEPP)             Halted