Box Score LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The UC Irvine men's tennis team dropped a 5-2 decision to eighth-ranked USC Saturday morning in Los Angeles.
 
Luis Lopez and Daniel Gealner both won their singles matches to lead the Anteaters. Lopez battled it out to defeat Laurens Verboven, 7-6 (5), 2-6, 1-0 (12-10) at the No. 3 spot while Gealner won 6-4, 7-6 (0) on court six.
 
"Daniel Gealner won a big match at six," said Mike Saunders. "He didn't play his best but fought hard and raised his level when he needed. We are a very dangerous team; the guys are very united. We have really positive team chemistry this year. We just need to get healthy and stay healthy long enough to get some momentum".
 
On court one, Sebastian Heim dropped a 6-4, 7-5 decision to nationally-ranked No. 11 Brandon Holt.
 
Luca Maquard fell in No. 2 singles, 6-3, 6-2 while Mason Hansen and Vatsal Bajpai dropped in No. 3 and 5, respectively.
 
In doubles play, Bajpai and Bruce Man-Son-Hing went the distance with Holt/Smolicki, 6-3, at the No. 3 spot but the Trojans won Nos. 1-2 to clinch the point.
 
"We still have a match to play with our full lineup as Sasha Krasnov was out with a fever," said head coach Mike Saunders. "I thought the team competed well. Sebastian had chances to beat one of the better players in the country but was a little rusty coming off his illness and knee injury. Luis played with courage and clutched out on the deciding tie breaker".
 
No. 8 USC improves to 4-1 on the season while UCI drops to 1-3.
 
The 'Eaters will look to rebound next weekend when they travel to Utah for two matches. UCI will play Utah Saturday, Feb. 17 at 11:00 a.m. followed by Utah State Sunday Feb 18 at 9:00 a.m. 

Singles
1. #11 Brandon Holt (USC) def. Sebastian Heim (UCI) - 6-4, 7-5
2. Daniel Cukierman (USC) def. Luca Marquard (UCI) - 6-3, 6-2*
3. Luis Lopez (UCI) def. Laurens Verboven (USC) - 7-6 (5), 2-6, 1-0 (12-10)
4. Jack Jaede (USC) def. Mason Hansen (UCI) - 6-3, 6-0
5. Tanner Smith (USC) def. Vatsal Bajpai (UCI) - 6-3, 6-4
6. Daniel Gealer (UCI) def. Jens Sweaney (USC) - 6-4, 7-6 (0)
Order of finish:  4, 5, 2*, 1, 6, 3

Doubles
1. Jaede/Verboven (USC) def. Heim/Lopez (UCI) - 6-2
2. Cukierman/T. Smith (USC) def. Hansen/Marquard (UCI) - 6-2
3. Holt/Smolicki (USC) def. Bajpai/Man-Son-Hing (UCI) - 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2