Friday, February 22
Irvine, CA
1:00 PM
UC Irvine
vs
Pacific
Anteaters Begin Ten-Match Homestand Against Pacific
February 21, 2019 | Men's Tennis
UC Irvine (3-3) vs.
Pacific (2-4)
Date:Β Friday, Feb. 22
Time:Β 1:00 p.m. PT
Location:Β Anteater Tennis StadiumΒ
After splitting their weekend series in Utah against BYU and Idaho State, UC Irvine will look to continue to build positive momentum from the comforts of Anteater Tennis Stadium. Led by the early success of senior Sasha Krasnov, the Anteaters are set to face the Pacific Tigers (2-4) this Friday at 1:00 p.m.
STORYLINES
β’ Senior Sasha Krasnov got off to a hot start, winning his first three singles matches of the year.
β’ Krasnov dropped to 3-1 last weekend with a 6-1, 6-4 loss to BYU's Sean Hill at the top of the lineup.
β’ Senior Mason Hansen and sophomore Mateusz Smolicki are also tied for the team lead with three singles wins.
β’ Smolicki picked up a big 7-5, 0-6, 7-6 victory over Fynn Lohse to clinch a 4-2 win over Idaho State (Feb. 16).
β’ Senior Luis Lopez and junior Bruce Man-Son-Hing remain undefeated in doubles with a 3-0 record at No. 3.
β’ UC Irvine has seven returning letterwinners from a 2017-18 squad that finished with a 16-12 record.
β’ The 'Eaters made their fourth-straight appearance in the Big West semifinals last year.
β’ Lopez earned first-team All-Big West accolades in singles with a 15-8 record, playing primarily at No. 1.
β’ Lopez and junior Daniel Gealer also received an All-Big West Honorable Mention nod in doubles.
β’ Krasnov garnered 2018 All-Big West Honorable Mention recognition in singles.
β’ Senior Vatsal Bajpai and Man-Son-Hing took home first-team All-Big West doubles honors.
β’ Hansen earned his second-straight All-Big West award in doubles, playing alongside recent grad Luca Marquard.
β’ UCI was a 2017-18 ITA All-Academic Team with six players earning individual Scholar-Athlete honors.
Β
LAST TIME OUT
UC Irvine began their Utah road-trip against BYU, who had come into the contest with a four-match winning streak. The hot streak continued for the Cougars, as they topped the Anteaters 4-0. Playing from the No. 1 doubles position this season, Daniel Gealer and Mason Hansen were tasked with playing against the #18 ranked doubles team of Hill and Jeffrey Hsu, falling 6-2 to the duo. Sasha Krasnov lost his first dual singles match of the season, falling to Sean Hill 6-1, 6-4 at the No. 1 position. Mateusz Smolicki came close in preventing a sweep, but was defeated by Mateo Bereau 2-6, 6-0, 7-6. BYU improved their record to 8-2 and is currently ranked second in the West Coast Conference.
Β
After struggling to find any momentum against BYU, the Anteaters looked to improve on their performance in a neutral site match against Idaho State. UC Irvine took early control by winning the doubles point, with wins by Vatsal Bajpaj/Smolicki at the No. 1 position and Bruce Man-Son-Hing/Luis Lopez at the No. 3 position. The Anteaters continued their success in singles play, winning four matches to seal the victory. Hansen and Gealer each won their matches in straight sets, and Smolicki, playing in a consecutive three-set match, clinched the win by defeating Idaho State's Fynn Lohse 7-5, 0-6, 7-6. Idaho State dropped to 2-4 after the loss.
GET TO KNOW THE NEWCOMERS
UC Irvine welcomes two freshmen and one transfer in 2018-19. Sophomore Mateusz Smolicki (Warsaw, Poland) played at USC in 2017-18 when the Trojans went 20-9 overall and finished the campaign ranked 11th in the nation. Smolicki adds to the Anteaters' current international talent of Antoine Barthe (France) and Sasha Krasnov (Ukraine).
Β
Freshman Aaron Bailey joins the 'Eaters from Las Vegas, Nev., where he helped Faith Lutheran High School to a state title. Fellow freshman Mike Mkrtchian made the trip down the 5 Freeway from Reseda, Calif. Mkrtchian was ranked among the top-five in the Southern California sectional rankings and was among the top-75 in the national rankings.
Β
VERSUS THE OPPONENTS
The Pacific Tigers (2-4) visit UC Irvine with four newcomers and seven returning juniors, including Tadiwa Chinamo. Last season, Chinamo was selected to the AllβWest Coast Conference team, and along with fellow veterans Akram El Sallaly and Ross Watson, have each climbed to 4-2 records in dual singles play. El Sallaly leads the Tigers with a 3-1 record in dual doubles action, with victories from each doubles position.
Β
UC Irvine is 14-12 in previous matches against Pacific. Last season, the Tigers defeated the Anteaters 4-2. Luis Lopez defeated Chinamo in the No. 1 singles position.
Β
LOOKING AHEAD
On Monday, March 4, the Anteaters will continue their home stretch against Boston College (4-4) at 1:00 p.m. The following day, the team will host a double-header against Villanova (5-2) and Weber State (2-7).
Β
Β
Pacific (2-4)
Date:Β Friday, Feb. 22
Time:Β 1:00 p.m. PT
Location:Β Anteater Tennis StadiumΒ
After splitting their weekend series in Utah against BYU and Idaho State, UC Irvine will look to continue to build positive momentum from the comforts of Anteater Tennis Stadium. Led by the early success of senior Sasha Krasnov, the Anteaters are set to face the Pacific Tigers (2-4) this Friday at 1:00 p.m.
STORYLINES
β’ Senior Sasha Krasnov got off to a hot start, winning his first three singles matches of the year.
β’ Krasnov dropped to 3-1 last weekend with a 6-1, 6-4 loss to BYU's Sean Hill at the top of the lineup.
β’ Senior Mason Hansen and sophomore Mateusz Smolicki are also tied for the team lead with three singles wins.
β’ Smolicki picked up a big 7-5, 0-6, 7-6 victory over Fynn Lohse to clinch a 4-2 win over Idaho State (Feb. 16).
β’ Senior Luis Lopez and junior Bruce Man-Son-Hing remain undefeated in doubles with a 3-0 record at No. 3.
β’ UC Irvine has seven returning letterwinners from a 2017-18 squad that finished with a 16-12 record.
β’ The 'Eaters made their fourth-straight appearance in the Big West semifinals last year.
β’ Lopez earned first-team All-Big West accolades in singles with a 15-8 record, playing primarily at No. 1.
β’ Lopez and junior Daniel Gealer also received an All-Big West Honorable Mention nod in doubles.
β’ Krasnov garnered 2018 All-Big West Honorable Mention recognition in singles.
β’ Senior Vatsal Bajpai and Man-Son-Hing took home first-team All-Big West doubles honors.
β’ Hansen earned his second-straight All-Big West award in doubles, playing alongside recent grad Luca Marquard.
β’ UCI was a 2017-18 ITA All-Academic Team with six players earning individual Scholar-Athlete honors.
Β
LAST TIME OUT
UC Irvine began their Utah road-trip against BYU, who had come into the contest with a four-match winning streak. The hot streak continued for the Cougars, as they topped the Anteaters 4-0. Playing from the No. 1 doubles position this season, Daniel Gealer and Mason Hansen were tasked with playing against the #18 ranked doubles team of Hill and Jeffrey Hsu, falling 6-2 to the duo. Sasha Krasnov lost his first dual singles match of the season, falling to Sean Hill 6-1, 6-4 at the No. 1 position. Mateusz Smolicki came close in preventing a sweep, but was defeated by Mateo Bereau 2-6, 6-0, 7-6. BYU improved their record to 8-2 and is currently ranked second in the West Coast Conference.
Β
After struggling to find any momentum against BYU, the Anteaters looked to improve on their performance in a neutral site match against Idaho State. UC Irvine took early control by winning the doubles point, with wins by Vatsal Bajpaj/Smolicki at the No. 1 position and Bruce Man-Son-Hing/Luis Lopez at the No. 3 position. The Anteaters continued their success in singles play, winning four matches to seal the victory. Hansen and Gealer each won their matches in straight sets, and Smolicki, playing in a consecutive three-set match, clinched the win by defeating Idaho State's Fynn Lohse 7-5, 0-6, 7-6. Idaho State dropped to 2-4 after the loss.
GET TO KNOW THE NEWCOMERS
UC Irvine welcomes two freshmen and one transfer in 2018-19. Sophomore Mateusz Smolicki (Warsaw, Poland) played at USC in 2017-18 when the Trojans went 20-9 overall and finished the campaign ranked 11th in the nation. Smolicki adds to the Anteaters' current international talent of Antoine Barthe (France) and Sasha Krasnov (Ukraine).
Β
Freshman Aaron Bailey joins the 'Eaters from Las Vegas, Nev., where he helped Faith Lutheran High School to a state title. Fellow freshman Mike Mkrtchian made the trip down the 5 Freeway from Reseda, Calif. Mkrtchian was ranked among the top-five in the Southern California sectional rankings and was among the top-75 in the national rankings.
Β
VERSUS THE OPPONENTS
The Pacific Tigers (2-4) visit UC Irvine with four newcomers and seven returning juniors, including Tadiwa Chinamo. Last season, Chinamo was selected to the AllβWest Coast Conference team, and along with fellow veterans Akram El Sallaly and Ross Watson, have each climbed to 4-2 records in dual singles play. El Sallaly leads the Tigers with a 3-1 record in dual doubles action, with victories from each doubles position.
Β
UC Irvine is 14-12 in previous matches against Pacific. Last season, the Tigers defeated the Anteaters 4-2. Luis Lopez defeated Chinamo in the No. 1 singles position.
Β
LOOKING AHEAD
On Monday, March 4, the Anteaters will continue their home stretch against Boston College (4-4) at 1:00 p.m. The following day, the team will host a double-header against Villanova (5-2) and Weber State (2-7).
Β
Β
Players Mentioned
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