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IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's tennis team closed out the 2017 campaign with a 6-18 overall record and an appearance in the quarterfinals of the Big West Tournament.

This year, the 'Eaters went to battle with a young team that featured five freshmen, including three who saw significant playing time. Although they didn't always get the desired results, they will benefit from that experience with eight letterwinners set to return in 2017-18. That group accounted for 86 percent of the team's wins in dual-match singles and boasts three All-Big West selections in Constance Branstine, Vivien Dvali and Stephanie Hazell.

QUICK HITS
• Nine of the Anteaters' duals were decided by one point and they went 3-6 in those contests.
• Freshman Constance Branstine played in 20 matches, all at the top of the lineup in both singles and doubles.
• Branstine, junior Vivien Dvali and junior Ashlynn Hall each finished with a team-best eight singles wins.
• Dvali is UCI's active career leader with 31 overall singles victories.
• Interim head coach Elizabeth Ferris concluded her first year at the helm of the program.
• Ferris spent the previous three seasons as an assistant under long-time UC Irvine head coach Mike Edles.

FOUR ANTEATERS COLLECT POSTSEASON HONORS: Four 'Eaters were named to the 2017 Big West Women's Tennis All-Conference Team the league office announced on May 4. Freshman Constance Branstine led the quartet as she garnered first-team honors in singles, extending the Anteaters' streak of at least one first-team selection to 20-straight years. UCI also had two tandems earn All-Big West doubles accolades as Constance Branstine/Stephanie Hazell and Hali Dickson/Vivien Dvali both received honorable mention recognition.

Despite missing five matches with an injury, Constance Branstine tied for the team lead with eight singles victories. She played the entire season at the No. 1 position and was impressive in Big West action where she posted a 4-2 record. The Orange, Calif., native defeated two-time Big West Player of the Year Maeva Razakasoa (LBSU) on March 4, starting a season-long three-match win streak. She also closed out her freshman campaign with back-to-back road triumphs. Branstine was named the Big West Athlete of the Week on April 26.

Branstine and sophomore Stephanie Hazell, who first teamed up on Feb. 19, spent all of their time together at the top of the lineup. They won three of their Big West matches and finished the regular season with three consecutive road victories. Junior Vivien Dvali and senior Hali Dickson were nearly perfect in Big West play where they went 4-1 at the No. 2 spot. After dropping their first match, the duo went unbeaten over their next seven (three unfinished). During that stretch, Dvali/Dickson clinched the point against Long Beach State, while also taking down their opponent from Big West regular season champion Hawai'i.

This was the second career postseason award for Dvali, who was a second-team All-Big West selection in singles last year. It also marks the first career honor for Branstine, Hazell and Dickson.

BIG WEST TOURNAMENT HISTORY: Since 1989, UC Irvine is 41-36 in Big West Tournament matches. The Anteaters have advanced to the championship 11 times, winning one title in 2010. They own a 3-2 record when playing in the first round, and are 19-7 in quarterfinal matches.

UNFAMILIAR ROAD: The Anteaters, who hit the road for the first time in over a month on April 8, ended the regular season with three consecutive away matches. UCI played its first four contests of the 2017 campaign in Irvine and hosted a season-long eight-match homestand from March 2-April 2. Overall, UC Irvine played 13 of its 22 dual matches at Anteater Tennis Stadium and Palisades Tennis Club (Newport Beach).

CALIFORNIA GIRLS: Every member of the UC Irvine women's tennis team hails from the state of California. In addition, five grew up locally in the Orange County area.

BACK FOR MORE: Junior Vivien Dvali made a statement in her return to the lineup after missing five matches with an injury. In her first appearance in four weeks, Dvali teamed up with Hali Dickson to defeat UC Davis' Sam Martino/Nikita Pradeep. She then got the 'Eaters on the board against the Aggies in singles, making quick work of Lani-Rae Green at No. 2 (6-3, 6-2). Since that match on April 2, the Valley Village, Calif., native went 5-2 in singles and 4-2 in doubles. Dvali is UCI's active career leader with 31 singles victories, including 24 in dual-match play. She earned All-Big West honors in doubles this year and was an all-conference selection in singles as a sophomore.

BLUE CHIP RECRUIT: Freshman Constance Branstine was a five-star blue chip recruit out of Villa Park High School. In her first year at UC Irvine, she played all of her matches at No. 1 singles and doubles. Branstine, who tied for first on the team with eight singles victories, earned several signature wins in conference action where she finished with a 4-2 record. On March 4, the Orange, Calif., native climbed out of a 4-0 hole in the third set to prevail over Long Beach State's two-time Big West Player of the Year Maeva Razakasoa, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. She then went on to take down Susanne Boyden of Cal Poly and Mickey Hsu of CSUN. Branstine garnered first-team all-conference honors in singles and received honorable mention recognition in doubles.

DOUBLES QUEEN: Senior Hali Dickson led the Anteaters in doubles with 10 wins, and most of her success came with junior Vivien Dvali as the duo earned an All-Big West honorable mention nod. Dickson/Dvali finished with a 4-1 record in conference play. Against Long Beach State, the 'Eater duo pulled out a 7-6 (8-6) victory that clinched the doubles point. They also defeated the No. 3 team from UC Davis and the No. 2 teams from CSUN and Big West regular season champion Hawai'i.

FAMILY AFFAIR: UC Irvine's roster featured a pair of sisters for the second time in three years as freshman Constance Branstine joined senior Cassidy Branstine in 2017. Twins Kat and Ali Facey were the last sister duo to play for the 'Eaters (2012-15). Constance and Cassidy aren't the only athletes in the family as their cousin, Freddie Freeman, is also a professional baseball player for the Atlanta Braves.

SENIOR FAREWELL: The Anteaters' three seniors reflected on the season and their UCI careers following their final collegiate match at the Big West Tournament.

"I love this team and I'm proud of the hard work we put in this year," Cassidy Branstine said. "As I conclude my college tennis career, I am so thankful for UCI and all the great memories and experiences that have come with being a student-athlete here. It was a blessing to play for this team and Coach Ferris for my final season, and I am proud to always be an Anteater!"

"It still hasn't sunk in that tennis is over this year," Hali Dickson said. "I'm so proud of all these girls and how much we grew individually and as a team. We had a lot of tough matches this season, and we really fought through a lot of ups and downs, but we played with passion. I've gotten so close with everyone and we definitely see ourselves as a family. There's no one I would rather have spent the majority of my time with this year and I don't know what I'll do without them. It's really been a special experience at UCI."

"The end of this year really crept up on me," Alex Harrigan said. "It still hasn't sunk in that this chapter of my life is over. It's been such an honor to play with such great girls and for such great coaches. I am so proud of how the girls fought all season. It shows how much we want to play and work for each other. It's going to be hard to adjust to life without my team, but I know they'll be my friends forever."