MALIBU, Calif. – Without its top player in the lineup, the UC Irvine men's tennis team struggled to find any momentum in a 7-0 loss to Pepperdine Sunday at Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center.

The 'Eaters were without the services of junior Sebastian Heim, who is ranked 95th in the Oracle/ITA Singles Rankings.

The Waves (3-3) took the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3. On court two, sophomores Mason Hansen and Luis Lopez were up, 4-3, before their match was cut short.

Pepperdine continued to roll in singles as Pedro Iamchkine defeated Hansen at No. 3, before Jack Van Slyke topped freshman Bruce Man-Son-Hing at the sixth spot. The Waves then clinched the match at the No. 2 position with Stefan Menichella locking down the win against Lopez.

Junior Luca Marquard, who has played every match at No. 2 this season, took over for Heim at the top of the lineup where he battled No. 102 Guilherme Hadlich. Marquard ended up falling, 6-3, 6-4. Sophomore Vatsal Bajpai also put up a fight on court four, but ultimately dropped a 6-2, 7-5 decision.

UC Irvine (1-6) will stay on the road next weekend when it travels to the University of San Diego for a 10 a.m. contest on Saturday, Feb. 25. The 'Eaters then return home on Sunday, Feb. 26, when they host Fresno State at 1 p.m.


at Pepperdine 7, UC Irvine 0

Singles
1. #102 Guilherme Hadlich (PEP) def. Luca Marquard (UCI): 6-3, 6-4
2. Stefan Menichella (PEP) def. Luis Lopez (UCI): 6-0, 6-2
3. Pedro Iamachkine (PEP) def. Mason Hansen (UCI): 6-0, 6-2
4. Lautaro Pane (PEP) def. Vatsal Bajpai (UCI): 6-2, 7-5
5. Jack Van Slyke (PEP) def. Bruce Man-Son-Hing (UCI): 6-2, 6-0
6. Dane Esses (PEP) def. Andrew Gong (UCI): 6-3, 6-2

Order of finish: 3, 5, 2*, 6, 1, 4

Doubles
1. Van Slyke/Menichella (PEP) def. Marquard/Man-Son-Hing (UCI): 6-1
2. Hansen/Lopez (UCI) vs. Hadlich/Sidney (PEP): 4-3 unfinished
3. Iamachkine/Pane (PEP) def. Bajpai/Chen (UCI): 6-2

Order of finish: 1, 3*