IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine women's tennis continues its Big West schedule with a match at UC Riverside Thursday, March 25 at 11 a.m.

STORYLINES
-The Anteaters are looking for their first win of the season after starting 0-6. UCI is 0-2 in Big West play
- UCI concluded the shortened 2020 season 5-7 overall and 0-2 in conference action
- Jessica Tsukiji posted the top singles dual-match record in 2020 at 5-1. Overall, she was 8-5 in singles. Tsukiji won both Big West Conference matches that were played
- Jenna Schlatter returns for her sophomore season after a strong freshman debut. She went 5-2 during the dual-match season
- Alyssia Fossorier shined in fall competition in 2019, winning the singles main draw championship at the SDSU Fall Classic II. She earned 10 wins during the fall season
- Fossorier will look to replace her doubles partner, Stephanie Nguyen, lost to graduation. The duo earned a 4-2 record including 2-0 BWC record in doubles last season
- Tsukiji is UCI's only returning All-Big West player
- In total, UCI returns 10 players from last year's squad
- The Anteaters will have three new faces in the lineup
- Head coach Elizabeth Ferris returns for her fifth season at the helm
- UCI was named an ITA All-Academic Team for the third straight year in 2020 and had six players earn scholar-athlete honors, including Halla Alajeely, Dasee Carter, Shreya Pavani and Jessica Tsukiji

LAST TIME OUT
- UCI fell to Cal Poly, 7-0, in conference action
- Halla Alajeely battled at the No. 2 singles spot with CP's Kim Khunu before falling, 6-1, 6-7 (1-10), 1-10
- The No. 3 doubles team of Dasee Carter and Emily Fowler's match went unfinished, 4-3

SCHLATTER NAMED BIG WEST ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
- Sophomore Jenna Schlatter was named the Big West Athlete of the Week for the week of Feb. 17. It marked the first career weekly award for Schlatter and the first for an Anteaters since 2017

- Schlatter earned the 'Eaters lone singles point after defeating SJSU's Tamara Culibrk, 6-3, 6-4 at the No. 3 spot

ABOUT UC RIVERSIDE
- UCR is 0-1 on the season with a loss to San Diego State, 7-0
- This will be the first Big West match for the Highlanders
- Tia Elpusan plays at No. 1 singles while Mahli Silpachai has seen action at No. 2 and Natalie Shamma at No. 3

NEW FACES
Freshmen Emily Fowler, Mia Totah and Raquel Pareja all enter their first seasons with the 'Eaters. Fowler and Pareja hail from San Diego while Totah comes to UCI from Aptos.

SUMMER CIRCUIT
Freshman Mia Totah competed in two ITA Summer Circuit events and advanced to the final round in both tournaments.

EXCITED TO RETURN!
"I'm so excited to play our first match this Friday! We have a strong team this year and I'm looking forward to being on court with my girls and competing together. I am thankful for the opportunity to play again and represent UCI. Zot Zot Zot!" – Arianna Tilbury
"It was really tough having our last season cut so short so I'm super grateful for the opportunity to compete and have a season this year. There's never a dull moment being on the court with my amazing teammates & we're all so pumped for our first match!" – Jessica Tsukiji
"We're very excited to start our season, it's been awhile since we've competed, but I think UCI athletics has done a good job of letting us practice on campus and keeping us safe during these tough times. We're ready to go. GO EATERZ!!" – Halla Alajeely
 
UP NEXT
UCI plays at CSUN Thursday, April 1 at 2 p.m.