SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's tennis team kicked off the UC Santa Barbara Fall Classic with one round of doubles and one round of singles Friday at Arnhold Tennis Center.
 
A pair of Anteaters advanced in the Flight A singles bracket. Junior Rithvik Krishna had an impressive performance, defeating UCSB's Conrad Brown, 7-6, 7-6. In his collegiate debut, freshman Andy Nguyen also cruised to a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Gerhard Sullwald of Grand Canyon.
 
Junior Lawee Sherif got out to a strong start, but the Gauchos' Luka Mrsic was able to rally for the 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 comeback win. In Flight B, Matthew Sah dropped a 6-3, 7-6 decision to GCU's Alfred Almasi.
 
UCI fell in both its doubles matches.
 
The 'Eaters will be back at it tomorrow as they continue both singles and doubles action at the UCSB Fall Classic.
 

UCSB Fall Classic
Arnhold Tennis Center
Friday, Oct. 6
 
Flight A Singles
Rithvik Krishna (UCI) def. Conrad Brown (UCSB) 7-6, 7-6
Luka Mrsic (UCSB) def. Lawee Sherif (UCI) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
Andy Nguyen (UCI) def. Gerhard Sullwald (GCU) 6-4, 6-3

Flight B Singles
Alfred Almasi (GCU) def. Matthew Sah (UCI) 6-3, 7-6

Flight A Doubles
Colter Smith/Bastiaan Weststrate (CP) def. Rithvik Krishna/Matthew Sah (UCI) 8-5
 
Flight B Doubles
Andre Saleh/Liam Spiers (SDSU) def. Andy Nguyen/Lawee Sherif (UCI) 8-3