Irvine, Calif. – The Anteaters (2-9) played host to the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (7-6) in a 4-3 win for UCI.
Middle Tennessee took the doubles point for an early lead with wins at No. 2 Darya Shulzhanok and Sarah Sediri defeating Andrea Duva and Vivien Dvali 6-4, while Alory Pereira and Costanza Magazzini took the No. 3 spot at 7-5, to defeat Ashlynn Hall and Mazy Watrous. Sarah Gong and Stephanie Hazell were in the middle of a tie-breaker with Brittany Huxley and Guilia Squadrin at the No. 1 spot when the Blue Raiders clinched the point.
The 'Eaters played strong in singles with the winning point not decided until the third set of the final match at flight six.
The Blue Raiders took a 2-0 lead in the match after a 6-1, 6-3 win by Squadrin against Duva at the No. 5 spot.
UC Irvine went on to take the next three points with No.3 Hazell over Luisa Zirilli (7-5, 6-3), No. 2 Dvali over Huxley (7-6 {9-7},6-2), and No. 4 Watrous over Magazzini (7-5, 6-4).
With the 3-2 UCI lead, the match was down to the third sets in both flight one and six. Sarah Gong finished first in the No. 1 spot as she battled with Middle Tennessee's Shulzhanok. Gong forced a third set after winning the second, and had a neck-to-neck race in the third set tie-breaker ultimately falling to Shulzhanok 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (9-7).
Cassidy Branstine earned the final point for the 'Eaters with two sets decided by tie-breakers forcing a third defeating Pereira 6-7 (1-7), 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 at flight six.
UC Irvine will host Georgetown on Thursday (Mar. 10) at 1:30 p.m. at the Anteater Tennis Stadium.
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