Results

HONOLULU - The UC Irvine men's tennis team continued its dominance against Hawai'i, defeating the Rainbow Warriors, 4-3, Saturday afternoon at the UH Tennis Complex.
 
The Anteaters (6-5, 1-1 Big West) earned their ninth-straight victory in the all-time series with the 'Bows.
 
The 'Eaters got out to a strong start in doubles with Mateusz Smolicki and Mark Peneff dispatching Blaz Seric/Axel Labrunie, 6-2, at No. 2. UH then pulled even with a win at the top of the lineup, before Ali Amiri and Jeremy Merville came through to clinch the doubles point with a 7-5 victory over Simao Telo Alves/Tristan Martins.
 
In singles, Merville was first off the court as he made quick work of Seric, 6-3, 6-2, at the second position. After the home team got on the board with a win at No. 4, Mike Mkrtchian delivered an impressive three-set triumph at No. 5. Mkrtchian upended Alves, 7-5, 1-6, 6-1, to extend his win streak to three.
 
Hawai'i (2-3, 1-3 Big West) stayed alive as Andre Ilagan handed 67th-ranked Bjorn Hoffmann a rare singles loss at No. 1, but Smolicki responded at No. 3, securing UC Irvine's first Big West win of the season by taking down Lucas Labrunie, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4.
 
UC Irvine is back in action next week as it concludes a three-match Big West road swing at UC Riverside on Thursday, April 8. The Anteaters then return home to host UC Santa Barbara in an 11 a.m. conference showdown on Sunday, April 11. Spectators are currently not permitted at Anteater Tennis Stadium.
 
NOTES
• UC Irvine is 9-0 against Hawai'i over the last seven seasons.
• The 'Eaters have not lost to the Rainbow Warriors since 2014.
• UCI improved to 5-1 when winning the doubles point.
• Mike Mkrtchian is tied for second on the team with a 5-3 singles record.
• Mkrtchian has won three matches in a row, which is the Anteaters' longest active win streak.
• Mateusz Smolicki was playing in only his third singles match of the season, and first at No. 3.