
Photo by: Robert Huskey
UC Irvine Takes Down UC Riverside, 4-3
April 08, 2021 | Men's Tennis
Results
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's tennis team earned its second-straight Big West road win with a 4-3 victory over UC Riverside Thursday afternoon at the SRC Tennis Courts.
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The Anteaters (7-5, 2-1 Big West), who secured the match at 4-1 before dropping the final two singles contests, improved to 26-0 against the Highlanders since 1997.
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The 'Eaters swept through doubles play as Jeremy Merville and Matthew Sah set the tone by dispatching Jayson Blando/Michael Blando, 6-1, at No. 3. Bjorn Hoffmann and Mateusz Smolicki then clinched the point with a 6-3 triumph over Gilbert Chung/Joshua Roth on court one. Bruce Man-Son-Hing and Mark Peneff followed suit, taking down Antreas Djakouris/Nolan McCaig, 6-3, at No. 2.
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In singles, UCR (1-7, 0-2 Big West) evened the score with Merville unable to finish his match against McCaigΒ at the third position, but his teammates picked him up as UCI won the next three.
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Mike Mkrtchian stayed hot, earning his fourth-straight victory by way of a 6-1, 6-2 score over Michael BlandoΒ at No. 6. On court two, Smolicki made quick work of Bingru Chen, 6-1, 6-3, to extend his win streak to three. No. 67 Bjorn Hoffmann then delivered the final blow at the top of the lineup where he defeated Chung, 6-3, 7-6 (3).
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Sah and Peneff both dropped three-set battles at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.
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UC Irvine returns to Anteater Tennis Stadium for its Big West home opener against UC Santa Barbara at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 11. Β Spectators are not permitted at this time.
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NOTES
β’ UCI improved to 6-1 when winning the doubles point.
β’ Bruce Man-Son-Hing now owns a 49-27 career dual-match doubles record.
β’ He needs one more victory to become the 16th 'Eater in program history withΒ 50+ doubles wins.
β’ Bjorn Hoffmann has played every match at the top of the doubles (6-5) and singles (8-4) lineup.
β’ Mike Mkrtchian is second on the team with a 6-3 singles record.
β’ Mkrtchian has won four matches in a row, which is the Anteaters' longest active win streak.
β’ Mateusz Smolicki, who played at No. 2 for the first time this season, improved to 3-1.
β’ Matthew Sah played in his first match since March 23.
β’ Sah and Jeremy Merville did not miss a beat in doubles as the pair moved to 4-1 on the season.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's tennis team earned its second-straight Big West road win with a 4-3 victory over UC Riverside Thursday afternoon at the SRC Tennis Courts.
Β
The Anteaters (7-5, 2-1 Big West), who secured the match at 4-1 before dropping the final two singles contests, improved to 26-0 against the Highlanders since 1997.
Β
The 'Eaters swept through doubles play as Jeremy Merville and Matthew Sah set the tone by dispatching Jayson Blando/Michael Blando, 6-1, at No. 3. Bjorn Hoffmann and Mateusz Smolicki then clinched the point with a 6-3 triumph over Gilbert Chung/Joshua Roth on court one. Bruce Man-Son-Hing and Mark Peneff followed suit, taking down Antreas Djakouris/Nolan McCaig, 6-3, at No. 2.
Β
In singles, UCR (1-7, 0-2 Big West) evened the score with Merville unable to finish his match against McCaigΒ at the third position, but his teammates picked him up as UCI won the next three.
Β
Mike Mkrtchian stayed hot, earning his fourth-straight victory by way of a 6-1, 6-2 score over Michael BlandoΒ at No. 6. On court two, Smolicki made quick work of Bingru Chen, 6-1, 6-3, to extend his win streak to three. No. 67 Bjorn Hoffmann then delivered the final blow at the top of the lineup where he defeated Chung, 6-3, 7-6 (3).
Β
Sah and Peneff both dropped three-set battles at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.
Β
UC Irvine returns to Anteater Tennis Stadium for its Big West home opener against UC Santa Barbara at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 11. Β Spectators are not permitted at this time.
Β
Β
NOTES
β’ UCI improved to 6-1 when winning the doubles point.
β’ Bruce Man-Son-Hing now owns a 49-27 career dual-match doubles record.
β’ He needs one more victory to become the 16th 'Eater in program history withΒ 50+ doubles wins.
β’ Bjorn Hoffmann has played every match at the top of the doubles (6-5) and singles (8-4) lineup.
β’ Mike Mkrtchian is second on the team with a 6-3 singles record.
β’ Mkrtchian has won four matches in a row, which is the Anteaters' longest active win streak.
β’ Mateusz Smolicki, who played at No. 2 for the first time this season, improved to 3-1.
β’ Matthew Sah played in his first match since March 23.
β’ Sah and Jeremy Merville did not miss a beat in doubles as the pair moved to 4-1 on the season.
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