No. 17 USC Falls to No. 5 Pepperdine in Championship Match of ITA Kickoff Weekend

LOS ANGELES—After a hard-fought battle, No. 17 USC fell to No. 5 Pepperdine 4-2 in the championship match of ITA Kickoff Weekend in Malibu, Calif. The Waves earned the automatic bid to the ITA National Team Indoor Championships which will be played next month. 
 
Not long after the start of the match, the Malibu skies opened up and caused a rain delay for two hours. When play resumed, No. 12 Kulikov/Cayetano claimed the first doubles win with a 6-2 victory over Pepperdine's Failla/Pachkaleva. The Waves responded as Lahey/Redelijk defeated USC's Dvorak/McKee 7-5 on court three. After a close match, the Trojan tandem of Ewing/Cheong won 7-6 (4) to claim the doubles point for Troy by beating Pepperdine's Fukuda/Olsen. 
 
The Trojans entered singles with a 1-0 lead, but the Waves put the first singles point on the board as No. 88 Taisiya Pachkaleva beat USC's Summer Dvorak 7-5, 6-1 on court five. Pepperdine's No. 12 Shiori Fukuda then defeated Trojan Salma Ewing 6-4, 6-2 on court three. 
 
Trojan Danielle Willson drummed up her second singles win of ITA Kickoff Weekend as she claimed a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory over No. 45 Lexi Ryngler on court four. 
 
A close match was brewing on court one, but Pepperdine's No. 33 Jessica Failla came out on top with a 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 win over USC's No. 48 Eryn Cayetano. 
 
The Waves closed out the match with No. 1 Ashley Lahey's 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 win over No. 103 Naomi Cheong on court two. 
 
USC's next dual match will bring them back to Marks Stadium for a doubleheader. The Trojans will take on Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 11 a.m. PT, and then challenge Saint Mary's at 3 p.m. 

ITA KICKOFF WEEKEND

#5 Pepperdine 4, #17 USC 2
Jan. 25, 2021 | Malibu, Calif.

DOUBLES
(1) #12 Kulikov/Cayetano (USC) def. Failla/Pachkaleva (Pepp) - 6-2
(2) Ewing/Cheong (USC) def. Fukuda/Olsen (Pepp) - 7-6 (4)
(3) Lahey/Redelijk  (Pepp) def. Dvorak/McKee (Pepp) - 7-5
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2

SINGLES
(1) #33 Jessica Failla (Pepp) def. #48 Eryn Cayetano (USC) - 6-2,3-6, 7-5
(2) #1 Ashley Lahey (Pepp) def. #103 Naomi Cheong (USC) - 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4*
(3) #12 Shiori Fukuda (Pepp) def. Salma Ewing (USC) - 6-4, 6-2
(4) Danielle Willson (USC) def. #45 Lexi Ryngler (Pepp) - 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
(5) #88 Taisiya Pachkaleva (Pepp) def. Summer Dvorak (USC) - 7-5, 6-1
(6) Clare McKee (USC) vs. Lisa Zaar (Pepp) - 5-5 susp.
Order of finish: 5, 3, 4, 1, 2*