DROP SHOTS

The squad is now ranked 28th in the nation. It is the 'Eaters' highest ranking since March of 2009 when they reached 27th in the nation. They've been ranked as high as 23rd this season.

The Anteaters have eclipsed the 1,000 games won mark this season holding a 1,016-862 advantage of their opponents.

UCI's schedule turns homeward bound with the beginning of a nine-match homestand that will encompass the entire month of March. The 'Eaters are currently 6-0 on that homestand and 5-0 in March.

Kristina Smith has now defeated four ranked opponents; No. 112 Kaitlin Burns of LSU, No. 118 Klara Vyskocilova of Tulane, and No. 98 Edyta Cieplucha of SMU as her singles victims. Smith and partner Franziska Goettsching also took down fourth-ranked pair Guillermo/Issara of Pepperdine.

Goettsching and Smith are now the 66th-ranked doubles pair in the nation. They have been ranked as high as 40th.

UC Irvine has claimed the Big West Athlete of the Week award four times this season via Kristina Smith (twice), Franziska Goettsching, 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 70 career dual match wins and 54 career doubles wins. She is currently tied for fifth in singles wins, one behind Anna Bentzer and Maria Myers, and sixth in doubles wins all-time.

Kristina Smith also has 28 career wins as the No. 1 singles ranking her fourth in 'Eater history.

Smith has 92 wins between fall and dual matches and is two wins away from a fourth 20-win season.

STRAIGHT SETS

UCI used 13 different doubles pairs in 2012. Eight of those pairs spent just one match together. The 'Eaters have used just six pairs through 19 matches in 2013.

Freshmen Sarah Gong and Sarah Stadfelt are a combined 24-7 in singles so far.

UC Irvine is now 13-0 when winning the doubles point.

The 'Eaters have won 10 singles matches when losing the first set. They have also lost just four times when going up a set.

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 5-3 against them.

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.

MATADORS IN STORE

Cal State Northridge comes in at 9-5 overall, 3-2 in the Big West. The Matadors will square off with Long Beach State before hosting the 'Eaters.

The Matadors' strength is their doubles. Anna Yang and Sabrina Mon-Son-Hing have yet to be defeated this season standing at 12-0. Their No. 2 duo has also impressed going 10-2 in the form of Maria Pistalu and Lorraine Cheung. Overall, CSUN has lost just three doubles points on the year.

Pistalu carries the torch for singles with a 6-6 record as the No. 1. Slots 2, 3, and 4 all boasts winning records including Anna Yang's 9-2 mark at No. 2.