SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Junior Luca Marquard upended a ranked opponent to provide a bright spot in UC Irvine's 6-1 loss to San Diego Saturday at the Skip and Cindy Hogan Tennis Center.

"We are getting better every match," UCI head coach Mike Saunders said. "We need to keep believing in the process and keep the faith, and more than anything, believe in each other."

In his second match playing at No. 1 singles, Marquard earned a signature win as he took down No. 79 Filip Vittek. The Bensheim, Germany, native opened with a 7-6 victory before dropping the second set. Marquard then came storming back in a tiebreaker for the 7-6, 1-6, 1-0 (10-5) triumph.

Sophomores Luis Lopez and Mason Hansen also teamed up in doubles to cruise to a 6-3 win over Vittek/Pratt Keerasuntonpong at the No. 1 position. The Toreros (5-2) then answered at No. 2 and No. 3 to take the doubles point.

USD kept the momentum in singles, winning the first five matches before Marquard got the 'Eaters on the board.

UC Irvine (1-7) returns to Anteater Tennis Stadium tomorrow as it is set to host Fresno State at 1 p.m.

San Diego 6, UC Irvine 1

Singles
1. Luca Marquard (UCI) def. No. 79 Filip Vittek (USD): 7-5, 1-6, 1-0 (10-5)
2. Joshua Page (USD) def. Luis Lopez (UCI): 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (11-9)
3. Pratt Keerasuntonpong (USD) def. Derek Chen (UCI): 6-2, 6-0
4. Gui Osorio (USD) def. Mason Hansen (UCI): 6-1, 6-2
5. Joel Gamerov (USD) def. Vatsal Bajpai (UCI): 7-6, 4-6, 1-0 (10-7)
6. Alexandros Araouzos (USD) def. Andrew Gong (UCI): 6-2, 6-1

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

Doubles
1. Hansen/Lopez (UCI) def. Keerasuntonpong/Vittek (USD): 6-3
2. Araouzos/Page (USD) def. Bajpai/Chen (UCI): 6-4
3. Gamerov/Osorio (USD) def. Man-Son-Hing/Marquard (UCI): 6-1

Order of finish: 1, 3, 2*