Friday, May 8
Waco, Texas
6 p.m.
Baylor
4
vs
3
Pepperdine
No. 11 MT Moves on to the Elite 8, Besting No. 27 Pepperdine, 4-3
5/8/2026 10:53:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Bears head to Elite Eight for the first time since 2022
WACO, Texas – No. 11 Baylor men's tennis defeated No. 27 Pepperdine, 4-3, on Friday night at the Hurd Tennis Center to move on to the Quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.
The 10th-seeded Bears (25-9) secured the doubles point before picking up singles victories on Courts One, Two and Five to clinch a 4-3 win over the Waves (19-10). BU earned a gritty win to earn a bid to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2022. Junior Devin Badenhorst clinched the victory with a comeback 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5) win on Court One with 1,329 fans cheering in attendance.
THE RUNDOWN
Starting in doubles, the Bears were off to a fast start, winning on Courts One and Two. The No. 89 duo of Luc Koenig and Connor Van Schalkwyk finished first, earning a 6-4 win on Court Two.
The 69th-ranked doubles team of Alexandru Chirita and Zsombor Velcz garnered an upset win on Court One, defeating Pepperdine's No. 27th-ranked team of David Fix and Edward Winter with a 6-3 decision. The Bears earned the doubles point for the 23rd time this season to head into singles with a 1-0 lead.
In singles, senior captain Velcz moved quickly on Court Two, defeating his opponent with a 6-1, 6-1 decision. On Court Four, Chirita was unable to get a break, falling 6-1, 6-2. Koenig earned a dominant 6-1 first set victory before winning his second set 6-4 to extend Baylor's lead to 3-1.
Louis Bowden battled on Court Six but was unable to earn the comeback, dropping his contest to the Waves 6-1, 6-2. Van Schalkwyk was in a hard-fought contest on Court Three, forcing a tiebreaker in both sets; however, the junior lost his match 7-6(6), 7-6(6), tying the match at 3-3.
Finishing the match on Court One, Badenhorst fell in his first set 6-2, but was able to win the second set 7-5 to force a third set against Winter. In the third set, the opponents traded games until the two met in a tiebreaker. Ultimately, Badenhorst picked up the victory 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5) to earn the Bears a bid to the Elite Eight.
STAT OF THE MATCH
Tonight's match marked Baylor's 16th all-time meeting with Pepperdine. With the win, Baylor improved to 39-1 when hosting postseason matches. The Bears moved to 16-5 all-time in the Super Regional of the NCAA Tournament.
FROM HEAD COACH MICHAEL WOODSON
On key points of the match…
"To be honest, my mind goes immediately to just Devin and what he was able to do with, forget the pressure, just the adversity of cramping from the middle of the second set all the way to the end. I mean that doesn't to me that's a God thing. That's his, his dad, his sister looking over him in a very difficult moment. And last year the season ended on his court in the third set, 4 to 3, last match on. So, it felt like the whole time there's no way he's going to have that happen again. You know he's got such incredible people in his corner that are helping him. That was my first thought.
"My second thought is, wow, that was the coolest crowd I've been a part of. I don't know how many people were here, but it was insane. It was amazing. They were so engaged the whole time. I'll never forget this night and this crowd. The third thing, it was a wild match. There were 4 singles matches that were totally noncompetitive. Fortunately, we split them, we won the doubles point, which was ultimately the deciding factor. Our backs were against the wall. Pretty much from the start of the singles match after I thought a good doubles, credit to Khan and Dev for not going away. Credit to Luke for re-earning the set. Credit to Z for just staying on top of his opponent. It wasn't Louis and Alex's best day, but honestly that's how it goes in the tournament. You're going to win some, you're going to lose some, and we need to get to 4 points, we did tonight, incredible, incredible effort."
On putting the match on Devin Badenhorst's hands…
"I mean, he did it against Wake Forest. I think every single match we've needed him to win this year, he's won, he's not just. Best player on the court. He's the best competitor maybe I've ever had. When he really focuses on something and sets his mind to it, he's going to accomplish it, it's really incredibly special just to be a small part of his journey because he's going to be playing this sport for a very long time."
FROM DEVIN BADENHORST
On getting a lead in the third set tiebreaker…
"When you play at this level, every point's important, especially when it comes down to tight moments like that, and getting a lead in the tiebreaker played a huge part and a huge role in me winning that match. It was a crucial part. When I got those two points, I felt more confident in myself for winning and ending the match."
On the pressure in the moment and with a big crowd in attendance…
"I mean this crowd was unbelievable tonight. I've never seen so many people in my life at Baylor. Every single point it felt like the roof just came off this place. It was unbelievable. This guy, I mean for me personally, I've experienced it when you go to places like Wake Forest and every point that you lose, the crowd goes nuts and it just builds more and more pressure. If it's going to be tight and I'm going to win a couple of points, the crowd's going to get on him and he's going to get tight, and there was a couple of points in the tiebreaker. He played a great match overall, but a couple of points where I think the crowd played a big part in me finishing that match."
WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor travels to Athens, Ga., for the first time since 2017 to face No. 2 Texas in the Quarterfinals at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex on Thursday, May 14. The time of the match will be announced later.
RESULTS
Doubles
1. No. 69 Alexandru Chirita/Zsombor Velcz (BU) def. No. 27 David Fix/Edward Winter (PEP) 6-3
2. No. 89 Luc Koenig/Connor Van Schalkwyk (BU) def. Gustavo Almeida/Lasse Poertner (PEP) 6-4
3. Devin Badenhorst/Calvin Baierl (BU) vs. Maxi Homberg/Aleksa Pisaric (PEP) 4-5, UF
Order of finish: 2, 1
Singles
1. No. 10 Devin Badenhorst (BU) def. Edward Winter (PEP) 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5)
2. No. 51 Zsombor Velcz (BU) def. Lasse Poertner (PEP) 6-1, 6-1
3. Aleksa Pisaric (PEP) def. No. 53 Connor Van Schalkwkyk 7-6 (6), 7-6 (6)
4. Gustavo Almeida (PEP) def. No. 69 Alexandru Chirita (BU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Luc Koenig (BU) def. Maxi Homberg (PEP) 6-1, 6-4
6. David Fix (PEP) def. Louis Bowden (BU) 6-1, 6-2
Order of finish: 2, 4, 5, 6, 3, 1
The 10th-seeded Bears (25-9) secured the doubles point before picking up singles victories on Courts One, Two and Five to clinch a 4-3 win over the Waves (19-10). BU earned a gritty win to earn a bid to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2022. Junior Devin Badenhorst clinched the victory with a comeback 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5) win on Court One with 1,329 fans cheering in attendance.
THE RUNDOWN
Starting in doubles, the Bears were off to a fast start, winning on Courts One and Two. The No. 89 duo of Luc Koenig and Connor Van Schalkwyk finished first, earning a 6-4 win on Court Two.
The 69th-ranked doubles team of Alexandru Chirita and Zsombor Velcz garnered an upset win on Court One, defeating Pepperdine's No. 27th-ranked team of David Fix and Edward Winter with a 6-3 decision. The Bears earned the doubles point for the 23rd time this season to head into singles with a 1-0 lead.
In singles, senior captain Velcz moved quickly on Court Two, defeating his opponent with a 6-1, 6-1 decision. On Court Four, Chirita was unable to get a break, falling 6-1, 6-2. Koenig earned a dominant 6-1 first set victory before winning his second set 6-4 to extend Baylor's lead to 3-1.
Louis Bowden battled on Court Six but was unable to earn the comeback, dropping his contest to the Waves 6-1, 6-2. Van Schalkwyk was in a hard-fought contest on Court Three, forcing a tiebreaker in both sets; however, the junior lost his match 7-6(6), 7-6(6), tying the match at 3-3.
Finishing the match on Court One, Badenhorst fell in his first set 6-2, but was able to win the second set 7-5 to force a third set against Winter. In the third set, the opponents traded games until the two met in a tiebreaker. Ultimately, Badenhorst picked up the victory 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5) to earn the Bears a bid to the Elite Eight.
STAT OF THE MATCH
Tonight's match marked Baylor's 16th all-time meeting with Pepperdine. With the win, Baylor improved to 39-1 when hosting postseason matches. The Bears moved to 16-5 all-time in the Super Regional of the NCAA Tournament.
FROM HEAD COACH MICHAEL WOODSON
On key points of the match…
"To be honest, my mind goes immediately to just Devin and what he was able to do with, forget the pressure, just the adversity of cramping from the middle of the second set all the way to the end. I mean that doesn't to me that's a God thing. That's his, his dad, his sister looking over him in a very difficult moment. And last year the season ended on his court in the third set, 4 to 3, last match on. So, it felt like the whole time there's no way he's going to have that happen again. You know he's got such incredible people in his corner that are helping him. That was my first thought.
"My second thought is, wow, that was the coolest crowd I've been a part of. I don't know how many people were here, but it was insane. It was amazing. They were so engaged the whole time. I'll never forget this night and this crowd. The third thing, it was a wild match. There were 4 singles matches that were totally noncompetitive. Fortunately, we split them, we won the doubles point, which was ultimately the deciding factor. Our backs were against the wall. Pretty much from the start of the singles match after I thought a good doubles, credit to Khan and Dev for not going away. Credit to Luke for re-earning the set. Credit to Z for just staying on top of his opponent. It wasn't Louis and Alex's best day, but honestly that's how it goes in the tournament. You're going to win some, you're going to lose some, and we need to get to 4 points, we did tonight, incredible, incredible effort."
On putting the match on Devin Badenhorst's hands…
"I mean, he did it against Wake Forest. I think every single match we've needed him to win this year, he's won, he's not just. Best player on the court. He's the best competitor maybe I've ever had. When he really focuses on something and sets his mind to it, he's going to accomplish it, it's really incredibly special just to be a small part of his journey because he's going to be playing this sport for a very long time."
FROM DEVIN BADENHORST
On getting a lead in the third set tiebreaker…
"When you play at this level, every point's important, especially when it comes down to tight moments like that, and getting a lead in the tiebreaker played a huge part and a huge role in me winning that match. It was a crucial part. When I got those two points, I felt more confident in myself for winning and ending the match."
On the pressure in the moment and with a big crowd in attendance…
"I mean this crowd was unbelievable tonight. I've never seen so many people in my life at Baylor. Every single point it felt like the roof just came off this place. It was unbelievable. This guy, I mean for me personally, I've experienced it when you go to places like Wake Forest and every point that you lose, the crowd goes nuts and it just builds more and more pressure. If it's going to be tight and I'm going to win a couple of points, the crowd's going to get on him and he's going to get tight, and there was a couple of points in the tiebreaker. He played a great match overall, but a couple of points where I think the crowd played a big part in me finishing that match."
WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor travels to Athens, Ga., for the first time since 2017 to face No. 2 Texas in the Quarterfinals at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex on Thursday, May 14. The time of the match will be announced later.
RESULTS
Doubles
1. No. 69 Alexandru Chirita/Zsombor Velcz (BU) def. No. 27 David Fix/Edward Winter (PEP) 6-3
2. No. 89 Luc Koenig/Connor Van Schalkwyk (BU) def. Gustavo Almeida/Lasse Poertner (PEP) 6-4
3. Devin Badenhorst/Calvin Baierl (BU) vs. Maxi Homberg/Aleksa Pisaric (PEP) 4-5, UF
Order of finish: 2, 1
Singles
1. No. 10 Devin Badenhorst (BU) def. Edward Winter (PEP) 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5)
2. No. 51 Zsombor Velcz (BU) def. Lasse Poertner (PEP) 6-1, 6-1
3. Aleksa Pisaric (PEP) def. No. 53 Connor Van Schalkwkyk 7-6 (6), 7-6 (6)
4. Gustavo Almeida (PEP) def. No. 69 Alexandru Chirita (BU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Luc Koenig (BU) def. Maxi Homberg (PEP) 6-1, 6-4
6. David Fix (PEP) def. Louis Bowden (BU) 6-1, 6-2
Order of finish: 2, 4, 5, 6, 3, 1
- BaylorBears.com -
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,2
#1 Singles Match
123
Edward Winter / 0 [PEPP]
656
277
#2 Singles Match
12
Lasse Poertner / 0 [PEPP]
11
66
#3 Singles Match
12
Aleksa Pisaric / 0 [PEPP]
77
66
#4 Singles Match
12
Gustavo Almeida / 0 [PEPP]
66
12
#5 Singles Match
12
Maxi Homberg / 0 [PEPP]
14
66
#6 Singles Match
12
David Fix / 0 [PEPP]
66
12
Order of Finish:
2,4,5,6,3,1
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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