Results

IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's tennis team extended its win streak to four with a 4-1 Big West victory over UC San Diego Saturday afternoon at Anteater Tennis Stadium.
 
UCI (9-5, 4-1 Big West) remained unbeaten at home this season, and dating back to last year, has won seven in a row on its home court.
 
For the first time since their Big West opener at Cal Poly on March 27, the 'Eaters dropped the doubles point. Playing together for only the second time this season, Thomas Smart and Jonathan Star fell to William Lan/Eric Silberman, 6-4, at No. 3. Bjorn Hoffmann and Mateusz Smolicki then came up short against Zach Ermert/Daniel Traxler by an identical 6-4 score at the top of the lineup.
 
At the second position, Bruce Man-Son-Hing and Matthew Sah were tied 5-5 with Cody Duong/Neil Tengbumroong when the Tritons clinched the point.
 
UCI bounced back in singles, starting at No. 2 where Smolicki was first off the court with a 6-2, 6-0 triumph over Ermert. Junior Mark Peneff, playing at the fifth spot, then took the momentum from a 7-5 first-set win to finish off Silberman, 6-0, in the second frame.
 
Junior Mike Mkrtchian continued his hot streak, dispatching Tengbumroong, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 4. Mkrtchian has now won six-straight singles matches. Freshman Ali Amiri then delivered his second match-clinching win of the season, upending Lan, 6-2, 7-5, at No. 6.
 
UC Irvine is back in action next Saturday, April 24, for its regular-season finale against UC Davis at Anteater Tennis Stadium.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine is second in the Big West, sitting one game behind Cal Poly (5-0).
• Since 1997, UCI is 8-0 against the Tritons.
• The Anteaters are also 5-0 at home this season.
• Mike Mkrtchian is now tied with Bjorn Hoffmann for the team lead at eight singles wins each.
• Mkrtchian improved to 8-3 on the season.
• Mateusz Smolicki also won his fourth-straight match, moving to 5-1 on the year.