IRVINE, Calif. – The UC Irvine men's tennis team (1-3) split its doubleheader on Saturday as it fell to Grand Canyon, 4-1, before bouncing back with a 4-0 sweep over UC San Diego at Anteater Tennis Stadium.
The 'Eaters played a doubleheader today as a result of Friday's match against UCSD being rescheduled due to rain. UCI ended up facing its original Saturday opponent, GCU, at 9 a.m., and the Tritons at 12:30 p.m. Both contests were singles first and clinch format.
Grand Canyon 4, UC Irvine 1
Grand Canyon (4-2) got out to a quick start as it took an early 3-0 lead. Junior Sebastian Heim never really found his rhythm at the top of the lineup, dropping a 6-1, 6-2 decision. Freshman Bruce Man-Son-Hing then fell at No. 5 and sophomore Vatsal Bajpai suffered a 6-4, 6-3 setback at No. 4.
Junior Luca Marquard responded at the No. 2 spot where he dispatched Adrian Legarreta in straight sets. Marquard started strong and never took his foot off the gas in a 6-2, 6-0 victory. The Lopes eventually clinched the match at No. 6 with sophomore Anil Patel falling to Gregoire Balenci, 6-1, 6-3. Sophomore Luis Lopez was leading, 6-3, 2-6, 4-3, on court three before the dual was completed.
Singles
1. Francois Musitelli (GCU) def. Sebastian Heim (UCI): 6-1, 6-2
2. Luca Marquard (UCI) def. Adrian Legaretta (GCU): 6-2, 6-0
3. Luis Lopez (UCI) vs. Mathieu Rajaonah (GCU): 6-3, 2-6, 4-3 dnf
4. Lorenzo Fucile (GCU) def. Vatsal Bajpai (UCI): 6-4, 6-3
5. Justin Cvitanovic (GCU) def. Bruce Man-Son-Hing (UCI): 6-0, 6-1
6. Gregoire Balenci (GCU) def. Anil Patel (UCI): 6-1, 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 5, 4, 2, 6
UC Irvine 4, UC San Diego 0
UC Irvine bounced right back with a 4-0 sweep of UC San Diego (0-1) in its afternoon match.
Marquard set the tone for the 'Eaters with his second straight-set victory of the day. He defeated Alexandre Miaule, 6-2, 6-4, at No. 2.
Man-Son-Hing followed suit with his first collegiate singles win as he topped Edvin Larsson, 6-3, 6-2 at the sixth spot. Bajpai then put the home team up, 3-0, with a 7-6 (4), 6-3 triumph on court four, and sophomore Mason Hansen delivered the final blow to the Tritons, taking down Marc Isaia, 6-3, 7-6 (2) at No. 5.
Both Heim (6-3, 2-6, 4-2) and Lopez (7-6, 3-1) were ahead in their respective matches when Hansen clinched the sweep for the Anteaters.
Singles
1. Sebastian Heim (UCI) vs. Eric Tseng (UCSD): 6-3, 2-6, 4-2 dnf
2. Luca Marquard (UCI) def. Alexandre Miaule (UCSD): 6-2, 6-4
3. Luis Lopez (UCI) vs. Justin Zhang (UCSD): 7-6 (3), 3-1 dnf
4. Vatsal Bajpai (UCI) def. Marius Ruh (UCSD): 7-6 (4), 6-3
5. Mason Hansen (UCI) def. Marc Isaia (UCSD): 6-3, 7-6 (2)
6. Bruce Man-Son-Hing (UCI) def. Edvin Larsson (UCSD): 6-3, 6-2
Order of finish: 2, 6, 4, 5
UC Irvine will be back in action next weekend as it heads to San Diego State (Feb. 11) before returning to Anteater Tennis Stadium to host Northern Arizona (Feb. 12).
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