UC Irvine
Grand Canyon
'Eaters Edged by Grand Canyon, 4-3
January 21, 2017 | Women's Tennis
IRVINE, Calif. – Freshman Constance Branstine won at No. 1 singles and doubles, but it wasn't enough as UC Irvine came up just short in a 4-3 loss to Grand Canyon Saturday afternoon at Anteater Tennis Stadium.
GCU (1-0) won the doubles point and then took a 2-0 lead when Celina Buhr defeated senior Cassidy Branstine, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 5 singles.
Junior Vivien Dvali then got the 'Eaters on the board as she dispatched Alexandra Petrzalkova, 6-4, 6-2, at the No. 2 spot, but the visitors responded with wins at No. 6 and 3 to decide the match. The clincher didn't come easily for the Lopes as freshman Stephanie Nguyen put up a fight on court three where she ultimately fell to Susan Baklini, 5-7, 6-2, 2-6.
The Anteaters did not let that affect their play in the final two singles matches as they closed out the day with a pair of well-deserved victories. At the No. 5 spot, sophomore Stephanie Hazell dug deep for a 7-6, 0-6, 7-6 triumph over Lana Rinaldi. She trailed 5-2 in the third set before coming back for the win. Constance Branstine also came from behind to top Tatum Prudhomme, 2-6, 7-6, 2-2 (10-6) at No. 1.
In doubles, Constance teamed up with Nguyen to defeat Baklini/Prudhomme at the top position.
UC Irvine (0-2) will be back in action against San Diego State on Sunday, Jan. 29, as tomorrow's match vs. Nevada has been canceled.
Singles
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1. Constance Branstine (UCI) def. Tatum Prudhomme (GCU) 2-6, 7-6, 2-2 (10-6) |
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2. Vivien Dvali (UCI) def. Alexandra Petrzalkov (GCU) 6-4, 6-2 |
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3. Susan Baklini (GCU) def. Stephanie Nguyen (UCI) 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 |
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4. Celina Buhr (GCU) def. Cassidy Branstine (UCI) 6-2, 6-2 |
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5. Stephanie Hazell (UCI) def. Lana Rinaldi (GCU) 7-6, 0-6, 7-6 |
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6. Emilia Occhipinti (GCU) def. Ashlynn Hall (UCI) 6-1, 6-3 |
Doubles
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1. Constance Branstine/Stephanie Nguyen (UCI) def. Susan Baklini/Tatum Prudhomme (GCU) 7-5 |
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2. Emilia Occhipinti/Lana Rinaldi (GCU) def. Hali Dickson/Vivien Dvali (UCI) 6-4 |
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3. Celina Buhr/Alexandra Petrzalkov (GCU) def. Cassidy Branstine/Stephanie Hazell (UCI) 6-3 |
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (4,2,6,3*,5,1)
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