IRVINE, Calif. – The UC Irvine men's tennis team saw its four-match win streak snapped with a narrow 4-3 defeat to Harvard Monday afternoon at Anteater Tennis Stadium.

The 'Eaters, who were playing their fifth match in eight days, dropped to 5-8 on the season, while the Crimson improved to 8-6 overall.

"Tough loss today against a classy Harvard team," head coach Mike Saunders said. "It stings because I felt we should have won, but it is always an honor and joy to compete against the coaching legends of college tennis. Dave Fisher is one of the greatest college coaches of all-time."

Juniors Sebastian Heim and Luca Marquard led UCI at the top of the singles lineup as they remained unbeaten in each of their last six outings, while sophomore Vatsal Bajpai added a straight-set victory at No. 6.

After Harvard earned the doubles point, Heim, who is ranked 113th in the nation, took down Kenny Tao, 6-2, 6-4, at No. 1 to even the playing field. The visitors then responded by winning at Nos. 3-5 to clinch the match.

UC Irvine did not let up in the two remaining contests with Bajpai defeating Christopher Morrow, 7-5, 6-3, for his second consecutive triumph at the sixth spot. Marquard was also locked in a tight battle with Brian Yeung at No. 2 as he fought back from a tough 7-5 loss in the opening set to take the second frame before Yeung retired (5-7, 6-1, ret.).

The Anteaters fell just short in three tightly contested doubles matches to start the day. In a seesaw battle at No. 1, sophomore Mason Hansen and Marquard pulled ahead 5-4, but the Crimson's 40th-ranked duo of Tao/Yeung bounced back for the 7-5 victory.

On court three, Bajpai and freshman Bruce Man-Son-Hing went the distance against Morrow/Logan Weber. The 'Eaters would dig themselves out of a 5-2 hole to pull even in the tiebreaker before Harvard held on, 7-6 (5). Heim and sophomore Luis Lopez also dropped a hard-fought 6-4 decision at the No. 2 position.

"In doubles, we played not to lose in the moments we needed to play with more belief and desire to earn the point," Saunders added.

UC Irvine closes out its season-long seven-match homestand later this week as it hosts Lamar (March 16), Gonzaga (March 17) and Boise State (March 19). UCI and Lamar will square off at Palisades Tennis Club in Newport Beach.

Harvard 4, UC Irvine 3

Singles
1. #113 Sebastian Heim (UCI) def. Kenny Tao (HARV): 6-2, 6-4
2. Luca Marquard (UCI) def. Brian Yeung (HARV): 5-7, 6-1, ret.
3. Jean Thirouin (HARV) def. Luis Lopez (UCI): 6-1, 6-4
4. Andy Zhou (HARV) def. Mason Hansen (UCI): 6-3, 6-2
5. Grant Solomon (HARV) def. Bruce Man-Son-Hing (UCI): 6-3, 6-3
6. Vatsal Bajpai (UCI) def. Christopher Morrow (HARV): 7-5, 6-3

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

Doubles
1. #40 Tao/Yeung (HARV) def. Hansen/Marquard (UCI): 7-5
2. Sebastian Beltrame/Thirouin (HARV) def. Heim/Lopez (UCI): 6-4
3. Morrow/Logan Weber (HARV) def. Bajpai/Man-Son-Hing (UCI): 7-6 (5)

Order of finish: 2, 1*, 3