Results

IRVINE, Calif. – The UC Irvine men's tennis team closed out non-conference play with a 5-2 victory over defending BIG EAST champion DePaul Wednesday afternoon at Anteater Tennis Stadium.
 
The 'Eaters extended their win streak to nine and improved to 10-4 on the season.
 
For the fifth time in the last six matches, UCI claimed the doubles point. Matthew Sah and Lawee Sherif got things started with a 6-2 victory over Lars Peder Minsaas/Luuk Wassenaar at No. 2. Ali Amiri and Mike Mkrtchian then took down Matteo Iaquinto/Trip Tuff, 6-4, at the third position to secure the early lead. Emmanuel Coste and Noah Zamora were also up 5-4 at the top of the lineup when their match was suspended.
 
DePaul (6-10) evened the playing field in singles with a win on court four, but just seconds later, Zamora put UC Irvine back on top. He won his seventh-straight match and improved to 3-0 at No. 2 with a 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Marino Jakic.
 
Amiri followed with a straight-set victory as he dispatched Tuff, 6-2, 6-2, at the fifth spot to make it 3-1 in favor of the Anteaters. The Blue Demons stayed alive with a win at No. 6, but Sherif then delivered a 6-2, 7-6 (9-7) match-clinching victory over Minsaas on court three.
 
No. 81 Coste added another point for the 'Eaters as he closed out the day by upending Vito Tonejc, who was the 2021 BIG EAST Player of the Year, 6-4, 6-2, at No. 1.
 
UC Irvine will kick off Big West action next week, traveling to UC San Diego (March 31) before hosting Cal Poly (April 3).
 
NOTES
• UCI is 7-1 at home this year and is 39-8 at Anteater Tennis Stadium since 2018.
• Noah Zamora improved to 7-1 in dual-match singles and is now 4-0 when playing at the top two spots in the lineup.
• Ali Amiri extended his individual win streak to four and has not dropped a set during that stretch.
• Emmanuel Coste picked up his 10th overall singles win (7-2 dual).
• Matthew Sah/Lawee Sherif (5-1) earned their team-leading fifth doubles victory in dual-match play.