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34 | February 7, 2019 | Malibu surfside news sports malibusurfsidenews.com Live-ball tennis a hit among community Pepperdine Crest Associates program provides stress relief, more Barbara Burke Freelance Reporter Live ball? What is that? It’s fast and fun. It’s challenging and fulfilling. It’s the newest thing to hit the tennis scene in Malibu, where Martin Parkes, Pepperdine Crest Associates tennis program coach, rapidly and repeatedly serves balls to up to eight participants playing on the court at once, all to the beat of invigorating music. When playing live ball, one loses the need to serve — often the most challenging element of the game for players — as well as the obligation to comply with other traditional tennis rules and practices. With Parkes’ live-ball program, one gains a highenergy workout and a great social experience. Malibu Surfside News set out to find out more. Parkes is an engaging, experienced tennis coach who exudes enthusiasm about the game. A native of England, he has been in America for almost all of his professional life and has more than 20 years of coaching and sports psychology experience, working with elite athletes as well as beginners. A former International Tennis Foundation team leader and a mental skills program coach at Florida’s Saddlebrook International Academy, Parkes first served as the assistant coach for men’s tennis at Pepperdine before assuming his current position as the Crest Associates tennis coach. He also oversees the Nike adult tennis weekend program during summer months at Pepperdine. “Live ball is a wonderful, fast-paced, active tennis game with multiple people playing on the court,” Parkes said. “It is very entertaining and it provides an opportunity to feel good and release tensions. A player doesn’t have the time to think, to criticize himself or get frustrated. It is a fantastic environment for skill development that is both fun and competitive.” Pepperdine Crest Associates tennis program coach Martin Parkes (right, front) looks on during a live ball tennis match in Malibu. Photo by Phil Mays Parkes’ passion for live ball is infectious. “Martin is an excellent ambassador for Pepperdine’s Crest Associates program and the university’s outreach to the community through tennis,” participant Randy Olson said. Parkes’ commitment to resuming the live-ball schedule almost immediately after the Woolsey Fire significantly helped Olson start the long process of healing and dealing with the fact that his home burned down. “Playing live ball helped to reduce the stress,” Olson said. “It helped me return to a sense of normalcy.” After the fire, Parkes coordinated a racket donation project for those who lost their rackets. “We used the program in a positive way so that people could get back to playing as soon as possible so that those who lost their rackets could have both a mental and physical release,” Parkes said. “Live ball to me really unlocks one’s ability to create good mental habits and deal with challenges in holistic ways.” The tennis program that Parkes coaches includes several opportunities for players of all abilities to play live ball, sometimes in sessions that are integrated with cardio workouts, as well as offering opportunities for participation in player and doubles tennis clinics. The program is a component of Crest Associates, one of Pepperdine’s community outreach efforts. Although members of the public need not join the Crest Associates to play live ball, if they do, they will be able to share in the university’s theater, library and athletic and recreational facilities, and will receive special invitations to cultural and social events. The Crest program raises funds for student scholarships and academic programs, and supports the university. Players must sign up for all weekly tennis events through the Kourts smartphone app or online at www.kourts.com/ to guarantee a spot. Crest Associates/faculty/staff will be prioritized, but all guests welcome to join if space allows. “We offer open live ball for all levels on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, and evening intermediateadvanced live ball on Tuesdays and Thursdays with an advanced player competitive night on Monday evenings,” Parkes said. “At the request of several veteran players, in 2019, we will offer a combined live-ball/cardio workout over the noon hour on Fridays.” For those interested in trying their hand at tennis, the program offers a new player clinic as well. “I’m humbled and grateful to be able to help build our community and culture through tennis with the Pepperdine Crest Associates Program and live ball,” Parkes said. “It’s a great way for people to come together and focus on getting healthier in the new year in a relaxing but fun, competitive environment.” For more information on the program, email Parkes at martin.parkes@pepper dine.edu. Serving the Boys and Girls Club Pepperdine Crest Associate members donate tennis rackets, more Martin Parkes (far right), Pepperdine University Crest Associate office staff, and Bret Kittelsen (fourth from right), Pepperdine Crest student staff, visit the Boys and Girls Club of Malibu Jan. 22 to donate tennis rackets and lead tennis drills with the club members. Photo Submitted
malibusurfsidenews.com sports Malibu surfside news | February 7, 2019 | 35 Pepperdine Athletics Waves women’s basketball takes down No. 25 BYU Pepperdine women’s basketball had its marquee win after defeating No. 25 BYU on Saturday, Feb. 2, 79-65 in Firestone Fieldhouse. Four Waves had doubledigit points, led by Yasmine Robinson-Bacote, who had 17. Barbara Sitanggan, Rose Pflug and Deezha Battle all had at least 10 points as well. The Waves (13-8, 7-4 WCC) took control of the game in the second quarter, scoring 21 points while holding the Cougars (17-5, 9-2 WCC) to just 10. The Waves edged the Cougars in shooting percentage both from the field and beyond the arc, shooting 38.7 percent and 47.4 percent, respectively, while BYU shot 37 percent and 44 percent. Pepperdine controlled the glass as well, bringing down 41 rebounds. The Cougars started the game with the hot hand, quickly going up 8-2. After a time out, the Waves regrouped, eventually clawing all the way back to even the score at 12. After a 3-pointer from Battle gave the Waves the lead, BYU answered back with a three of its own, taking a 19-18 lead into the second quarter. In the second, the Waves quickly retook the lead after two free throws, but were again overtaken. With three minutes left in the half, the Waves went on an 11-2 run to take the 32-27 lead. Another run, this time a 7-0 run, gave the Waves a 39-29 lead going into the half. After halftime, the Waves and Cougars traded points until a jumper from Sitanggan gave them a 12-point lead with just 3:12 left on the clock. BYU battled back to get the lead to within seven, but strong offensive play from the Waves never let the Cougars closer. The Waves ended the quarter with a 56- 44 lead. The Waves would not let up in the fourth, scoring relentlessly against the Cougars. A 6-0 lead with four minutes left in the game gave the Waves a 19-point lead, their largest of the game, and eventually walked away with the 14-point victory. MEN’S BASKETBALL Waves can’t hold on against Tigers Pepperdine had a shot at its second road win of the weekend, but a three-point barrage by Pacific in the final minutes sent the Waves to a 66-59 defeat in West Coast Conference play on Saturday, Feb. 2. Pepperdine (11-12, 4-5) led 53-44 with eight minutes left, but the Tigers (13-11, 3-6) hit three consecutive 3-pointers as part of a 10-0 run, and ended up making six of their nine 3-pointers in the final eight minutes. Junior forward Kameron Edwards led the Waves with 16 points and six rebounds, sophomore guard Colbey Ross added 11 points and had three steals, while senior guard Eric Cooper Jr. made three 3-pointers on four attempts and scored 9 points. There were eight lead changes in the first half, and the biggest lead for either side was 26-21 in Pacific’s favor. With the Tigers leading 30-27, the Waves went on 9-2 run to end the half and go into the break up 36-32. Pepperdine led for much of the second half, going up by eight at 46-38 and by nine at 53-44 with eight minutes to go. But Pacific hit 3-pointers on three straight possessions, two by Jeremiah Bailey and one by Roberto Gallinat to tie the game. Gallinat later hit a free throw to give the Tigers the lead at 54-53. The Waves took their last lead at 55-54 with five minutes left after a pair of free throws by Edwards, but the Tigers scored the next five points, the last three on another 3-pointer. Ross and Smith both scored to cut the deficit to one point at 60-59 with two minutes left, but Pacific came back with another pair of 3-pointers to go up by seven, and the Waves wouldn’t score again. MEN’S VOLLEYBALL Wieczorek has career day in win Redshirt-senior David Wieczorek hit two career milestones on Jan. 30 in Firestone Fieldhouse, boosting the No. 6 Pepperdine men’s volleyball team to a 3-1 win over No. 12 CSUN with 25-23, 25-27, 25-18 and 25-22 set scores. Wieczorek reached the 1,000-career-kill mark and the 100-career-ace mark in the match, helping the Waves (6-2) to the win over the Matadors (5-5). Michael Wexter led Pepperdine with 21 kills on a .410 success rate, while Wieczorek tabbed 16 kills and an impressive five aces. Kaleb Denmark also posted his second career doubledouble with 13 kills and 10 digs. Pepperdine may have opened the match with a 4-2 lead, but CSUN was close behind throughout, tying the score evenly early on. After working through a 9-9 tied score, the Matadors put together a few successful plays to pull ahead 14-10, but the Waves would prove resilient and a block collaboration from Kévin Vaz, Denmark and Wexter would help the cause. Pepperdine closed the gap within one several times, but wouldn’t tie the game until the score reached 22-22, when another Denmark block alongside Max Chamberlain helped the cause. Wieczorek then landed a kill to put the Waves on the right track, and a final block from Vaz and Wexter closed the set down 25-23 with a Waves’ win. In the second set, Pepperdine jumped ahead early with a 6-3 advantage and the Waves would continue en route to an 18-14 lead featuring multiple aces from Wieczorek. The Matadors never gave up, though, and closed the gap to a 19-19 score. After a few back-and-forth options and set-points fought off, the opposition closed the set on a kill for a 27-25 win to tie the overall match. The Waves weren’t messing around in the third set, as the home team jumped out of the starting gate and posted a block from Denmark and Vaz and kills from Wieczorek and Wexter en route to a 9-4 early lead. Pepperdine would stay at least three points in the lead or more throughout the final moments and kills from Chamberlain, Wieczorek and Wexter put the Waves in a position to close. With a 23-18 lead, Wieczorek stepped up to the service line and plastered a pair of aces on the floor to earn set win and put his team ahead heading into the fourth set. Pepperdine was intent on closing the match, but CSUN would not give up without a fight. After a block from Chamberlain and Denmark set an early tone and a propelled the Waves to a 6-3 lead, the Matadors would be unable to overcome the deficit throughout. The opposition did close the gap to one-point at the 14-13 Waves’ lead, but Pepperdine settled down and quick kills from Denmark and a block from Wexter and Vaz put the Waves ahead 18-14. The Waves kept pounding down and more kills from Wieczorek and Wexter continued through the set toward a 25- 22 set win and the 3-1 overall victory. Information from Pepperdine University and www.pepperdinewaves. com. Compiled by Assistant Editor Michal Dwojak, m.dwojak@22ndcentury media.com. This Week In... SHARKS ATHLETICS Baseball ■Feb. ■ 9 - host Simi Valley for Easton Tournament, 11 a.m. ■Feb. ■ 12 - at Moorpark, 3 p.m. ■Feb. ■ 14 - TBA, 3 p.m. Softball ■Feb. ■ 12 - at Viewpoint, 3:30 p.m. ■Feb. ■ 14 - host Bishop Diego, 3:30 p.m. Boys Tennis ■Feb. ■ 14 - at Westlake, 3 p.m. PEPPERDINE ATHLETICS Women’s Tennis ■Feb. ■ 7 - at ITA National Team Indoor Championships in Seattle, all day Men’s Basketball ■Feb. ■ 7 - host Santa Clara, 7 p.m. ■Feb. ■ 9 - host San Diego, 1 p.m. ■Feb. ■ 14 - at San Francisco, 7 p.m. Women’s Basketball ■Feb. ■ 7 - at San Francisco, 7 p.m. ■Feb. ■ 9 - at Santa Clara, 2 p.m. ■Feb. ■ 12 - host Cal State LA, 6 p.m. Track ■Feb. ■ 8 - at Husky Invitational (indoor) in Seattle Men’s Tennis ■Feb. ■ 8 - host UNLV, 5:30 p.m. ■Feb. ■ 10 - host Alabama, 1 p.m.
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