NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – The UC Irvine men's tennis team dropped a 5-2 decision to Lamar University Thursday evening at Palisades Tennis Club in Newport Beach.
Sophomores Luis Lopez and Mason Hansen both won their singles matches to lead the 'Eaters. Lopez earned his fifth victory in the last six outings. After coming up short in the first set, the Chula Vista, Calif., native regrouped and stormed back to defeat Jeandre Hoogenboezem, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 3. Hansen also prevailed in three as he upended Sebastian Santibanez, 6-0, 2-6, 7-6, at the No. 4 position.
Sophomore Vatsal Bajpai went the distance with Benny Schweizer at the sixth spot, but was unable to finish off his opponent in a tough 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 loss.
Juniors Sebastian Heim and Luca Marquard both saw their respective six-match win streaks snapped. Heim fell to Michael Feucht, 6-3, 7-6, at the top of the lineup, while Marquard suffered his first setback since Feb. 19 at No. 2.
In doubles play, Heim and Lopez opened with a convincing 6-2 victory over Feucht/Schweizer on court two before the Cardinals held on for 7-6 wins at Nos. 1 and 3 to clinch the point.
Lamar, which finished its West Coast road trip with a 2-1 record, improved to 10-6 overall.
UC Irvine (5-9) will look to rebound tomorrow morning when it welcomes Gonzaga to Anteater Tennis Stadium for a 10 a.m. showdown.
Lamar University 5, UC Irvine 2
Singles
1. Michael Feucht (LU) def. Sebastian Heim (UCI): 6-3, 7-6
2. Nikita Lis (LU) def. Luca Marquard (UCI): 6-0, 6-2
3. Luis Lopez (UCI) def. Jeandre Hoogenboezem (LU): 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
4. Mason Hansen (UCI) def. Sebastian Santibanez (LU): 6-0, 2-6, 7-6
5. Juuso Laitinen (LU) def. Bruce Man-Son-Hing (UCI): 6-1, 6-1
6. Benny Schweizer (LU) def. Vatsal Bajpai (UCI): 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
Order of finish: 2, 5, 1*, 6, 3, 4
Doubles
1. Hoogenboezem/Lis (LU) def. Hansen/Marquard (UCI): 7-6
2. Heim/Lopez (UCI) def. Feucht/Schweizer (LU): 6-2
3. Laitinen/Logan Powell (LU) def. Bajpai/Man-Son-Hing (UCI): 7-6
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3*
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