LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- The Anteaters (3-15, 0-1) made a big statement on Thursday afternoon with a 4-3 win at LMU without two of their veteran players.

With Ryan Cheung (Irvine / University HS) overseas and Jon Kazarian (Rancho Palos Verdes / Peninsula HS) sidelined, the 'Eaters' young guns were in the spotlight.

Early doubles competition went the Lions' way as they took Nos. 1 and 2 to secure the point. Fabian Matthews (Newport Beach / Corona del Mar HS) and Shuhei Shibahara (Rancho Palos Verdes / Peninsula HS) won 8-6 to avoid the sweep.

Singles play started off well as five of the six first sets went UCI's way. Early straight-set wins from Matthews and Jacob Jung (Upland / Options for Youth HS) gave UCI the brief lead, but LMU would quickly tie it up. Sam Gould (Hamilton, New Zealand / St. Kentigren College Prep) continued his torrid run of late with a straight-set win to give UCI the lead back. Mika DeCoster (Ladera Ranch / Laurel Springs HS) would get UC Irvine over the edge with a huge win in the second set tiebreaker to clinch the win for the 'Eaters.

UCI finally finishes its non-conference slate, and will welcome UC Riverside to town Sat. Apr. 7th for a 1:00 p.m. match at Anteater Tennis Stadium for the first of four Big West matches as the season winds down.

UC IRVINE 4, LMU 3

Thurs. Apr. 5, 2012 - Los Angeles, Calif.
LMU Tennis Center

Singles competition

1. Fabian Matthews (UCI) def. Alex Wilton (LMU) 6-1, 6-4
2. Sam Gould (UCI) def. Todd Volmari (LMU) 6-3, 6-4
3. Jacob Jung (UCI) def. Felix Van Kann (LMU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Mika DeCoster (UCI) def. Nick Northcott (LMU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-2)
5. Tom Price (LMU) def. Shuhei Shibahara (UCI) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
6. Daniel Simko (LMU) def. Eric Gast (UCI) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles competition

1. Alex Wilton/Felix van Kann (LMU) def. Jacob Jung/Sam Gould (UCI) 8-5
2. Daniel Simko/Todd Volmari (LMU) def. Eric Gast/Mika DeCoster (UCI) 8-3
3. Shuhei Shibahara/Fabian Matthews (UCI) def. Tom Price/Nick Northcott (LMU) 8-6

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,3,6,2,4,5)

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