INDIAN WELLS, Calif. – The eighth-seeded UC Irvine women's tennis team fell to ninth-seeded UC Riverside, 4-2, in a Big West Tournament First Round match Thursday morning at Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

UCI got off to a good start, winning the double point, but could not hold on dropping at Nos. 1, 2, 5 and 6 singles to suffer the defeat.

"Credit to UC Riverside, they came into this match with different game plans and executed them well," said head coach Elizabeth Ferris. "I thought we played the doubles point flawlessly and had great energy moving into singles".

Flora Amiri and Arianna Tilbury teamed up at No. 2 doubles to defeat UCR's Lauren Wolfe/Tamilla Vaksman, 6-2. At No. 1 doubles, Stephanie Hazell and Danielle Garrido clinched the point after winning a 6-3 decision over Tia Elpusan and Sara Khattab. Vivien Dvali and Yulin Chen led, 5-4, on court three when the match was called.

The Highlanders (9-16) knotted the game at one after Elpusan took down Dvali, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 2 singles. UCR jumped ahead, 2-1, when Karla Dulay defeated Hazell, 6-0, 6-3, at the top spot.

Amiri tied the match once again, 2-2, winning at No. 3, 7-5, 6-2, over the Highlanders' Khattab.

Tilbury battled with Lauren Wolfe at No. 5, taking the first set, 6-2, before dropping the second, 6-3. Wolfe earned a 6-1 win in set three to seal the victory. Jacqueline Tsodikova went the distance with Tracy Van on court six but ultimately fell in three sets, 6-4, 6-0, 6-2. Van's win clinched the match for UCR.

"I think for the most part everyone fought hard and gave it their all. However, we could have trusted our strategy a little more," added Ferris.

UC Riverside advances to the quarterfinal round and will face top-seeded UC Santa Barbara.

"We have most everyone from this team returning for next year with all the new editions coming next fall we have a lot to look forward to," said Ferris.

UC Irvine concludes its season with a 9-16 overall record. It was the final match for the Anteaters' two seniors Vivien Dvali and Ashlynn Hall.