Sunday, February 9
Moraga, Calif.
11:00 AM
UC Irvine
6
at
1
Saint Mary's
Men's Tennis Rolls Past Saint Mary's, 6-1
February 09, 2020 | Men's Tennis
MORAGA, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's tennis team earned its first win of the young dual-match season in convincing fashion as it defeated Saint Mary's, 6-1, Sunday at Timothy Korth Tennis Complex.
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The Anteaters (1-2) switched up their doubles lineup and it quickly paid off. Junior Mateusz Smolicki and sophomore Mark Peneff, who were playing together for the first time, dispatched Boris Reckow/James Watt, 6-2, at the top of the lineup.
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The Gaels (2-4) answered with a 6-4 victory at No. 3, putting the fate of the doubles point on court two. Seniors Bruce Man-Son-Hing and Daniel Gealer stepped up to the challenge, upending Matis Bot/Karlo Divkovic, 7-5, to give the 'Eaters a 1-0 lead in the match.
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Man-Son-Hing notched his 40th career doubles win to put him in a tie for 30th in school history.
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Peneff and Smolicki carried the momentum into their respective singles matches with each picking up a straight-set victory. Peneff toppled Felipe Rincon, 6-1, 6-3, at No. 2, while Smolicki took down Watt, 6-4, 6-4, at No. 1.
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Gealer then clinched the match with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 triumph over Divkovic on court three. It was Gealer's second dual win of the year, while he also improved to 31-12 in his two-plus seasons as an Anteater.
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The rest of the courts continued to play out their singles matches. Junior Jeremy Merville recorded his second win of the weekend, coming from behind to top Abhishek Bastola, 4-6, 6-0, 7-5, at the fourth spot.
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Sophomore Mike Mkrtchian also earned a gritty three-set win at No. 6, outlasting Andy Watterson, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7).
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UC Irvine returns to Northern California next weekend to continue its five-match road swing at Sonoma State (Feb. 15) and Pacific (Feb. 16).
Β
Β
The Anteaters (1-2) switched up their doubles lineup and it quickly paid off. Junior Mateusz Smolicki and sophomore Mark Peneff, who were playing together for the first time, dispatched Boris Reckow/James Watt, 6-2, at the top of the lineup.
Β
The Gaels (2-4) answered with a 6-4 victory at No. 3, putting the fate of the doubles point on court two. Seniors Bruce Man-Son-Hing and Daniel Gealer stepped up to the challenge, upending Matis Bot/Karlo Divkovic, 7-5, to give the 'Eaters a 1-0 lead in the match.
Β
Man-Son-Hing notched his 40th career doubles win to put him in a tie for 30th in school history.
Β
Peneff and Smolicki carried the momentum into their respective singles matches with each picking up a straight-set victory. Peneff toppled Felipe Rincon, 6-1, 6-3, at No. 2, while Smolicki took down Watt, 6-4, 6-4, at No. 1.
Β
Gealer then clinched the match with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 triumph over Divkovic on court three. It was Gealer's second dual win of the year, while he also improved to 31-12 in his two-plus seasons as an Anteater.
Β
The rest of the courts continued to play out their singles matches. Junior Jeremy Merville recorded his second win of the weekend, coming from behind to top Abhishek Bastola, 4-6, 6-0, 7-5, at the fourth spot.
Β
Sophomore Mike Mkrtchian also earned a gritty three-set win at No. 6, outlasting Andy Watterson, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7).
Β
UC Irvine returns to Northern California next weekend to continue its five-match road swing at Sonoma State (Feb. 15) and Pacific (Feb. 16).
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Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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