IRVINE, Calif. – The UC Irvine men's tennis team won its fourth-straight match with a 5-2 victory over New Mexico Saturday at Anteater Tennis Stadium.
"We won today with heart and belief," UCI head coach Mike Saunders said. "Good things happen when we compete as a team and play for each other."
The 'Eaters improved to 5-7 overall, while New Mexico, which was coming off a tough 4-3 loss to Big West-leading UC Santa Barbara, dropped to 6-9.
The Anteaters claimed two of the three doubles matches to take an early 1-0 lead. Sophomore Mason Hansen and junior Luca Marquard defeated Ricky Hernandez-Tong/Rodolfo Jauregui at the top spot, 6-3. The Lobos responded with a 6-4 triumph at No. 2, but sophomore Vatsal Bajpai and freshman Bruce Man-Son-Hing then staved off a couple match points to pull out the 7-5 victory at No. 3.
"Mason and Luca played superb doubles at one," Saunders said. "Bruce and Vatsal also fought courageously to come back from being down 5-3. It was one of the best comebacks I've seen in a long time."
Marquard opened singles play with his fifth consecutive win as he dispatched Hernandez-Tong, 6-3, 6-3, at No. 2. UNM then got on the board before UC Irvine reeled off three victories in a row. At the No. 3 position, Lopez took down Jauregui, 6-2, 6-3, before Bajpai prevailed, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 6 to clinch the match. Heim followed with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 triumph at the top of the lineup.
"Luca and Luis were all business, while Sebastian rallied after splitting the first two sets," Saunders stated. "He raised his level and won a convincing third set."
Man-Son-Hing also battled at No. 5 but came up just short to Jorge Escutia, 6-4, 4-6, 12-10.
"Bruce had three match points and although he wasn't able to close it out, he fought like a warrior to come back and win the second set," Saunders added. "He keeps getting better with every match and will win those closer matches with more experience."
UC Irvine returns to Anteater Tennis Stadium on Monday, March 13, when it entertains Harvard at 1 p.m.
UC Irvine 5, New Mexico 2
Singles
1. #113 Sebastian Heim (UCI) def. Bart Van Leijsen (UNM): 6-3, 4-6, 6-1
2. Luca Marquard (UCI) def. Ricky Hernandez-Tong (UNM): 6-3, 6-3
3. Luis Lopez (UCI) def. Rodolfo Jauregui (UNM): 6-2, 6-3
4. Dominic West (UNM) def. Mason Hansen (UCI): 6-2, 6-3
5. Jorge Escutia (UNM) def. Bruce Man-Son-Hing (UCI): 6-4, 4-6, 12-10
6. Vatsal Bajpai (UCI) def. Sean Baklini (UNM): 6-3, 6-4
Order of finish: 2, 4, 3, 6*, 1, 5
Doubles
1. Hansen/Marquard (UCI) def. Hernandez-Tong/Jauregui (UNM): 6-3
2. Van Leijsen/West (UNM) def. Heim/Lopez (UCI): 6-4
3. Bajpai/Man-Son-Hing (UCI) def. Baklini/Escutia (UNM): 7-5
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3*
