IRVINE, Calif. --- The 'Eaters opened the 2016 season in dramatic fashion taking the match to its limit before scoring the 4-3 win over Grand Canyon Saturday afternoon in Anteater Tennis Stadium.

Freshman Catherine Kreslin put up the winning effort in her first collegiate match with a three-set thriller, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 to secure the fourth point and put UC Irvine (1-0) on top.

The 'Eaters started well taking the doubles point at the No. 2 slot, 6-4, as Andrea Duva and Vivien Dvali decided the split decision.

Grand Canyon (0-1) roared out of singles play, however, with straight-set wins at positions 2, 3, and 4 to take a 3-1 lead.

Cassidy Branstine stemmed the tide with a straight-set win of her own, and No. 1 Sarah Gong battled to win to tie the match up and leave it up to Kreslin.

Kreslin took a see-saw first set before dropping the second, but after falling behind 2-1 in the third set, she would rally to stick the landing and give UCI the 4-3 win.

The Anteaters will have a stronger test in their next match with a trip to No. 9 UCLA on Friday, January 22 as part of the ITA Kick-Off Classic. 

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