IRVINE, Calif – UC Irvine women's tennis split a pair of matches in a double-header Saturday. UCI fell to Grand Canyon, 4-1, in the morning match at Anteater Tennis Stadium before defeating Hope International, 7-0, in the night cap.
 
The Anteaters improve to 2-3 on the season.
 
Quote from head coach Elizabeth Ferris
Great weekend of tennis. Obviously we want to win those close matches, but I'm happy we put ourselves in positions to win. Doubles is looking much stronger as well. Number 3 doubles played solid reliable tennis against GCU, 1s did a great job of hanging in there, and 2s do what they do best.

Alyssia did an excellent job of coming back to win the second set. She was down 0-5 in the third and rallied back to 4-5 with chances of tying it up. Halla and Jess also did a great job of snagging the second set and positioning themselves to win their third sets. Steph, Flora, and Jenna were all in their matches, and I'm proud how much they fought.

Hope international is a much improved team, they battled us hard. Number 1 doubles played smooth and number 2s came back from 2-5 then 5-6 down to get the win. Number 3s had the lead and got tight and had to battle through some nerves to get the win.

Everyone had a chance to show their stuff this weekend and I'm proud and excited by our growth and intensity.
 
Grand Canyon 4, UC Irvine 1
INSIDE THE MATCH
> The Anteaters took two of the three doubles matches, to win the doubles point and go up, 1-0
> Jenna Schlatter and Arianna Tilbury go things started winning at the No. 3 doubles spot against Ludovica Infantino and Autum Prudhomme, 6-3
> The team of Alyssia Fossorier and Stephanie Nguyen played at the No. 2 position and won their match in dominant fashion, 6-2 over Natasha Puehse and Jana Weiss to clinch the doubles point
> Flora Amiri and Jessica Tsukiji would go unfinished in their match,4-5 (40-30)
> GCU came back to win on four singles courts to clinch the match  
> GCU's Emilia Occhipinti defeated Nguyen at the No. 1 singles position in a tight two sets, 7-6 (4), 6-3.
> Amiri would go the distance against Natasha Puehse in the No. 2 spot losing in the end 6-2, 2-6, 3-6
> Tsukiji was battling in the third against Celina Buhr before the match went unfinished due to GCU clinching. The final score was 2-6, 6-2, 3-4.
> Halla Alajeely was in the third set against Weiss on the No. 4 court, 4-6, 6-3, 2-1, when the match was called
> On the fifth court, Fossorier played Infantino in a back-and-forth match that ended with Fossorier falling 6-1, 3-6, 4-6
 
Jenna Schlatter Quote
Doubles went very well today, we competed hard, got loud, and we were able to execute our game plan which was key to getting the win!
 
Stephanie Nguyen Quote
Today was another tough match for us. Winning the doubles point was really exciting, we all stuck to our strengths and executed the right shots. Everyone battled really hard during singles, we will build off this match and practice hard to improve our games.
 
Alyssia Fossorier Quote
Today was a battle and I'm really proud of how hard everyone fought. We played with a great amount of intensity and really gave it our all. Although the outcome wasn't ideal, I believe these matches will prepare us for what's to come next.
 
UC Irvine 1, Grand Canyon University 4
Singles
1. Emilia Occhipinti (GCU) def.Stephanie Nguyen (UCI), 7-6 (4), 6-3
2. Natasha Puehse (GCU) def. Flora Amiri (UCI), 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
3. Jessica Tsukiji (UCI) v. Celina Buhr (GCU), 2-6, 6-2, 3-4 Unfinished
4. Halla Alajeely (UCI) v. Jana Weiss (GCU), 4-6, 6-3, 2-1 Unfinished
5. Ludovica Infantino (GCU) def. Alyssia Fossorier (UCI), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4
6. Martina Lo Pumo (GCU) def. Jenna Schlatter (UCI), 6-4, 6-4
Unfinished: 3, 4
 
Doubles
1. Amiri/Tsukiji (UCI) v. Occhippinti/Buhr 4-5 Unfinished
2. Fossorier/Nguyen (UCI) def. Puehse/Weiss 6-2
3. Schlatter/Tilbury (UCI) def. Infantino/Prudhomme 6-3
Order of Finish: 3, 2,
Unfinished: 1
 
UCI Irvine 7, Hope International 0
INSIDE THE MATCH
> UCI swept all three doubles matches and all six singles to earn a 7-0 win over HIU
> The No. 1 duo of Dana Mackensen/Arianna Tilbury won at the top spot, 6-0
> At No. 2, Gillian Parker and Jacqueline Tsodikova battled for a 7-6 (7-2)
> Shreya Pavani and Megan Mansonhing won at No. 3 7-5
> In singles, Tilbury earned a decisive 6-2, 6-1 win over Andjela Dejanovic at the top spot
> Tsodikova only dropped one point in a 6-1, 6-0 victory over HIU's Anastasija Djorjevic
> Mackensen battled at the No. 3 spot, coming up on top. 6-4, 7-6 (6)
> Dasee Carted defeated Samantha Paz on court four, 6-0, 6-4
> At No. 5, Parker earned a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Lisanne Siebrecht
> Pavani won at No. 6, 6-0, 6-4 over HIU's Jessica Ulloa
 
Shreya Pavani Quote
I had a great time playing doubles with Megan, I'm really proud of the way we pulled it out today. Everyone's energy was really good after winning the doubles point and it definitely carried through into singles. I'm proud of my Lady 'Eaters!
 
Arianna Tilbury Quote
Today was great for our team, we had the opportunity to play two tough schools, Grand Canyon and Hope International. Playing doubles with different partners today taught me to use different strategies against my opponents. I hit through my shots without fear and it really helped me win those close points. Our team battled today and we are tougher for it! Let's go lady 'Eaters!


Megan Mansonhing Quote
Everyone really pulled it off today. Shreya and I had to battle our nerves and play steady to close out our match. It was really encouraging to hear out teammates and family/friends cheering for us!
 
UCI 7, HIU 0
DOUBLES
1. Arianna Tilbury/Dana Mackensen (UCI) def. Anastasija Djordjevic/Andjela Dejanovic (HIU), 6-0
2. Gillian Parker/Jacqueline Tsodikova (UCI) def. Kristen Russo/Samantha Paz (HIU), 7-6 (7-2)
3. Shreya Pavani/Megan Mansonhing (UCI) def. Matea Ancheta/Jessica Ulloa (HIU), 7-5
 
SINGLES
1. Tilbury (UCI) def. Dejanoivc (HIU), 6-2, 6-1
2. Tsodikova (UCI) def. Djordjevic (HIU), 6-1, 6-0
3. Mackensen (UCI) def. Russo (HIU), 6-4, 7-6 (6)
4. Carter (UCI) def. Paz (HIU), 6-0, 6-4
5. Parker (UCI) def. Siebrecht (HIU), 6-3, 6-0
6. Pavani (UCI) def. Ulloa (HIU), 6-0, 6-4

Up Next
> UCI plays a double header next Saturday, February 15th against Utah and Chapman.