IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's tennis team got off to a strong start by winning the doubles point, but then came up short in singles play as the 'Eaters fell to Brown University, 6-1, Tuesday afternoon at Anteater Tennis Stadium.

Freshman Constance Branstine and sophomore Stephanie Hazell set the tone early as they raced out to a 3-1 lead before emerging with a 6-4 victory over Alyza Benotto/Dayna Lord at No. 1. Branstine sealed the impressive win with her strong serving in the final game. UCI handed Benotto/Lord just their third loss of the season.

Juniors Hali Dickson and Ashlynn Hall followed suit as they came from behind to upend Nandu Mandalap/Victoria Traynor, 7-5, at No. 3. The 'Eaters clawed their way out of a 3-0 hole to even the match and continued to battle for the decisive win.

Brown (9-4) responded in singles with triumphs at Nos. 2 and 4. Then, at the third spot, senior Cassidy Branstine rallied from a tough first-set loss to force a tiebreaker in the second, but ultimately fell to Maddie Stearns, 6-0, 7-6 (4).

The Bears would keep the momentum, clinching the match on court six where Mariska Chamdani defeated freshman Jacqueline Tsodikova. Tsodikova showed some resiliency as she trailed 5-0 in the first set before storming back to knot the score at 5-5. She was unable to complete the comeback, however, dropping a 7-5, 6-1 decision.

At the top of the lineup, Constance Branstine opened with a 6-2 victory, but could not finish off Alyza Benotto (2-6, 6-2, 6-2). Branstine saw her three-match win streak snapped as it was her first setback since March 2.   

UC Irvine (3-12) will now turn its focus to Big West play as it hosts UC Davis at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 2.

Brown 6, UC Irvine 1

Singles
1. Alyza Benotto (Brown) def. Constance Branstine (UCI): 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
2. Dayna Lord (Brown) def. Stephanie Nguyen (UCI): 6-1, 6-2
3. Maddie Stearns (Brown) def. Cassidy Branstine (UCI): 6-0, 7-6 (4)
4. Taylor Cosme (Brown) def. Stephanie Hazell (UCI): 6-1, 6-2
5. Juliana Simon (Brown) def. Ashlynn Hall (UCI): 6-4, 6-2
6. Mariska Chamdani (Brown) def. Jacqueline Tsodikova (UCI): 7-5, 6-1

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

Doubles
1. Co. Branstine/Hazell (UCI) def. Benotto/Lord (Brown): 6-4
2. Simon/Stearns (Brown) def. Ca. Branstine/Nguyen (UCI): 7-5
3. Hali Dickson/Hall (UCI) def. Nandu Mandalap/Victoria Traynor (Brown): 7-5

Order of finish: 1, 3*, 2