SALT LAKE CITY – UC Irvine topped Idaho State, 4-2, in a neutral site contest Saturday at the University of Utah.

The Anteaters, who have won three of their last four matches, improve to 3-3 overall. The Bengals drop to 2-4.

UCI got out to a strong start in doubles and carried the momentum into singles, before ISU fought back with a pair of wins. Mateusz Smolicki then stepped up big for the 'Eaters, clinching the match with a thrilling three-set victory at No. 3. 

COACH MIKE SAUNDERS SAID
"Great team win. Idaho State is a big serving team and it is tough to play indoors at altitude. They battled us to the very end and played some high level tennis. We found our groove today in doubles and Mateusz had a courageous, gutty win to close it out."

INSIDE THE MATCH
Doubles
> The 'Eaters took the early lead, winning the doubles point with victories at Nos. 1 and 3.
> Vatsal Bajpai and Mateusz Smolicki defeated Trhac/Lohse, 6-4, at the top of the lineup.
> Bruce Man-Son-Hing and Luis Lopez also teamed up at No. 3 to defeat Rendek/Filipovich, 6-4.
> Mason Hansen and Daniel Gealer saw their match go unfinished at the second spot.

Singles
> Gealer didn't miss a beat in singles, cruising to a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Francis Filipovich at No. 6.
> Hansen also won in straight sets, taking down Lukas Ridemar, 6-2, 6-1, on court four.
> Idaho State answered with wins at No. 2 and No. 5.
> Smolicki then dug deep at the third spot, outlasting Fynn Lohse, 7-5, 0-6, 7-6 (8) to clinch the match.
> Sasha Krasnov, who is 3-1 on the season, did not finish his match at No. 1.

UP NEXT
> UC Irvine returns home for one match next week, hosting Pacific at 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22.

Singles
No. 1 - Sasha Krasnov (UCI) v. David Felix (ISU), UF (7-6, 3-6, 3-4) 
No. 2 - Peter Trhac (ISU) d. Luis Lopez (UCI) 3-6, 4-6, 0-6
No. 3 - Mateusz Smolicki (UCI) d. Fynn Lohse (ISU) 7-5, 0-6, 7-6 (8)
No. 4 - Mason Hansen (UCI) d. Lukas Ridemar (ISU) 6-2, 6-1
No. 5 - Gary Rendek (ISU) d. Aaron Bailey 6-4, 6-3
No. 6 - Daniel Gealer (UCI) d. Francis Filipovich (ISU) 6-4, 6-0

Doubles
No. 1 - Vatsal Bajpai/Smolicki (UCI) d. Trhac/Lohse, 6-4
No. 2 - Felix/Ridemar (ISU) v. Hansen/Gealer, UF (5-4)
No. 3 - Bruce Man Son Hing/Lopez (UCI) d. Rendek/Filipovich (ISU), 6-4