Fresno, Calif. -- UC Irvine played strong until the very end in order to defeat Fresno State, 4-3.
The Anteaters (16-7, 2-2) overcame a few unexpected hurdles in order to take down the Bulldogs (9-15). The competition started with a split at doubles leaving the point in the hands of flight one. No. 1 Justin Agbayani and Jonathan Poon fell to Euan McIntosh and Patrik Pech 6-4, giving Fresno State the early 1-0 lead.
With some changes in the lineup, singles action got under way. The Bulldogs earned another point as Jonathan Hammel was defeated 6-4, 6-0 by Youssef Hassan at flight five. No. 3 Agbayani got one back for the 'Eaters in straight sets defeating Mantas Bugailiskis 7-5, 6-4.
Vatsal Bajpai tied it up 2-2, when he took his match 6-4, 6-0 over Pech at flight four. Nico Mertens battled back to win the second set to force a third ultimately earning the victory for the No. 1 spot 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 over Nikolas Papic.
The Bulldogs were not done and tied it up 3-3 at flight two as McIntosh came back to defeat Tyler Pham 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
The final match point would be determined by flight six. No. 6 Poon won the first set tie-breaker over Jeremy Moser. Moser came back to win the second set tie-breaker. The team winner came down to the third set of the final match as Poon fought to come up with the victory 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (3-7), 6-3 to put the 'Eaters over the top 4-3.
Head coach Mike Saunders reflected, "We won with our minds and hearts today. Justin Agbayani and Jon Poon did what champions do, they embraced the challenge and rose to the moment coming up with two huge singles wins." He continued, "We competed like a team on a mission."
UC Irvine is on a mission capping off the regular season with a Big West match at UC Davis on Saturday (April 23) at 11:00 a.m.
UC Irvine vs. Fresno State
April 21, 2016 at Fresno, Calif.
UC Irvine 4, Fresno State 3
Doubles Competition
1. Euan McIntosh/Patrik Pech (FS) def. Jonathan Poon/Justin Agbayani 6-4
2. Tyler Pham/Jonathan Hammel (UCI) def. Jeremy Moser/Nikolas Papic (FS) 6-4
3. Mantas Bugailiskis/Youssef Hassan (FS) def. Sebastian Heim/Nico Mertens (UCI) 6-2
Order of finish: 3,2,1
Singles Competition
1. Nico Mertens (UCI) def. Nikolas Papic (FS) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
2. Euan McIntosh (FS) def. Tyler Pham (UCI) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
3. Justin Agbayani (UCI) def. Mantas Bugailiskis (FS) 7-5, 6-4
4. Vatsal Bajpai (UCI) def. Patrik Pech (FS) 6-4, 6-0
5. Youssef Hassan (FS) def. Jonathan Hammel (UCI) 6-4, 6-0
6. Jonathan Poon (UCI) def. Jeremy Moser (FS) 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (3-7), 6-3
Order of finish: 5,3,4,1,2,6
