UPCOMING MATCHES
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SMU Mustangs at #24 UC Irvine Anteaters
Date / Time: Sun. Mar. 10, 2013 / 11:00 AM
Site: Irvine, Calif. / Anteater Tennis Stadium
Marquette Golden Eagles at #24 UC Irvine Anteaters
Date / Time: Mon. Mar. 11, 2013 / 1:30 PM
Site: Irvine, Calif. / Anteater Tennis Stadium
#58 Louisville Cardinals at #24 UC Irvine Anteaters
Date / Time: Wed. Mar. 13, 2013 / 1:30 PM
Site: Irvine, Calif. / Anteater Tennis Stadium
UC Davis Aggies at #24 UC Irvine Anteaters
Date / Time: Fri. Mar. 15, 2013 / 1:30 PM
Site: Irvine, Calif. / Anteater Tennis Stadium
DROP SHOTS
The squad is now ranked 24th in the nation. It is the 'Eaters' highest ranking since March of 2009 when they reached 27th in the nation.
The Anteaters have climbed or held their position every week this season. It's highest ranking of 2012 was 66th.
UCI's seven match win streak matches its best streak since 2009.
UCI's schedule turns homeward bound with the beginning of a nine-match homestand that will encompass the entire month of March.
Kristina Smith has now defeated three ranked opponents. No. 112 Kaitlin Burns of LSU joined No. 118 Klara Vyskocilova of Tulane as her singles victims. Smith and partner Franziska Goettsching took down fourth-ranked pair Guillermo/Issara of Pepperdine.
Goettsching and Smith are now the 48th-ranked doubles pair in the nation.
UC Irvine has claimed the Big West Athlete of the Week award three times this season via Kristina Smith, Sarah Gong, and Ali Facey.
BREAK POINTS
UCI looks to reach the Big West final for the 10th time in the last 14 years.
Kristina Smith leads all active Anteaters with 64 career dual match wins and 48 career doubles wins. She is currently seventh in singles wins and eighth in doubles wins all-time.
Kristina Smith also has 21 career wins as the No. 1 singles ranking her fourth in 'Eater history.
STRAIGHT SETS
UCI used 13 different doubles pairs in 2012. Eight of those pairs spent just one match together. The 'Eaters have used just five pairs through 10 matches in 2013.
Freshmen Sarah Gong and Sarah Stadfelt are a combined 17-4 in singles so far.
Over the last two seasons, the No. 6 singles position leads the way for the Anteaters with a 23-9 record.
UC Irvine is now 6-0 when winning the doubles point.
CHANGE OVERS
UCI's schedule features eight ranked schools including UCLA, USC twice, Pepperdine, LSU, Tulane, Wyoming, Louisville, and Long Beach State. UCI is currently 4-3 against them.
UCI players are 2-7 against ranked opponents and winless against ranked pairs so far.
FALL RECAP
UCI enjoyed a beneficial fall slate in the Cal State Fullerton Intercollegiate and UH Rainbow Invitationals.
Sarah Gong was the B Flight singles runner-up of the CSUF Intercollegiates. She finished the fall season with an 8-2 record.
Sarah Stadfelt defeated Nakisa Vahdat to claim the CSUF Intercollegiate C Flight singles title. Stadfelt finished the fall at 7-2 while Vahdat went 5-3.
Stadfelt partnered with Marivick Mamiit to win the CSUF Intercollegiate B Flight doubles championship. They went 9-0 as a duo in the fall.
Other notable fall marks were Alison Klein (5-3), Marivick Mamiit (4-3), and Ali Facey (4-3). In doubles, A. Facey/Schweyer and Klein/Vahdat each went 3-2.
SMU-TH OPERATORS
The Mustangs of SMU visit UCI on Sunday coming in with a 6-4 record. SMU has fallen to three ranked teams, but has won five of its last six matches. Irvine will be its first trip out of the Texas-Louisiana area this season.
No. 98 Edyta Cieplucha leads the way at 7-2 as the No. 1 including two wins over ranked opponents. Doubles overall is even at 14-14.
MARQUETTE AT THE NET
The Golden Eagles have already played 15 matches going 9-6. Away from home, Marquette is just 3-5.
CARDINAL RULES
Louisville has risen into the ranks now 58th in the nation. The Cardinals have good wins at Wake Forest and vs. Wisconsin, but have been tripped up by Winthrop and Eastern Kentucky. All three of their losses have also come on the road.
Rebecca Shine and Julia Fellerhoff pace Louisville as its Nos. 1 and 2.
AGGIE SWAG
UCI reenters Big West play with the Aggies of UC Davis. With a 5-7 mark, Davis has won its only Big West match thus far, 5-2 over Cal Poly. The Aggies have also played 10 matches away from home so far with its final six matches coming at home.
Megan Heneghan is the No. 1 posting a 5-7 mark as well. The Aggies No. 1 doubles are winless at 0-12 between two duos.
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