IRVINE, Calif. – The UC Irvine women's tennis team dropped its Big West opener to undefeated Cal State Fullerton, 5-2, Thursday at Anteater Tennis Stadium.

The 'Eaters (1-8, 0-1 BWC) started the match with a doubles win as senior Cassidy Branstine and freshman Stephanie Nguyen dispatched Masako Makiba/Danielle Pham, 6-2, at No. 3. The Titans then came back with a 6-4 triumph at No. 2, and all eyes turned to the top of the lineup. On Court 1,  freshman Constance Branstine and sophomore Stephanie Hazell were locked in a tight battle as they went the distance with Camille De Leon/Alexis Valenzuela, but came up just short in a hard-fought 7-6 (13-11) loss.

In singles play, the Titans took a 3-0 lead before junior Vivien Dvali got UCI on the board with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 victory over De Leon at No. 2. It was De Leon's first loss of the dual-match season.

CSF (10-0, 2-0 BWC) then clinched its school-record 10th-straight victory at No. 4. Nguyen eventually closed out the afternoon with the Anteaters' second point. She came from behind to upend Karla Portalatin, 2-6, 7-6, 10-5, at No. 3.

UC Irvine continues Big West play on Saturday, March 4, when it entertains Long Beach State at 11 a.m. The 'Eaters will then host Youngstown State in an 11 a.m. non-conference tilt on Sunday, March 5.