LONG BEACH, Calif. – In the opening day of action at the Beach Tennis Fall Invitational, three Anteaters won their opening game in the singles championship bracket.

Senior Kayla Meraz was the first to advance to the round of 32 with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Kelly Leung of UC San Diego. Carolyna Fowler and Bella Pitchford then followed with their round of 64 wins, both completed in three sets. 

Meraz then easily won her next singles competition of the day, 6-1, 7-5, against Sophie Valentine of UC Davis to represent the Anteaters in tomorrow's round of 16 draw. 

Both Haily Huynh and Yen Nhi Huynh brought their respective singles matches to a decisive third set, but were unable to pull out the victory. 
 
RESULTS
 
MAIN DRAW SINGLES TOP HALF -- ROUND OF 64
Victoria Santibanez-Luna (CSUN) defeated Nour Khayat (UCI) 6-4, 6-1
Kayla Meraz (UCI) defeated Kelly Leung (UCSD) 6-0, 6-1
Mika Ikemori (UCD) defeated Haily Huynh (UCI) 5-7, 6-4, 6-1
Kennedy Buntrock (CP) defeated Mikaela Hinton (UCI) 6-2, 6-2
 
MAIN DRAW SINGLES BOTTOM HALF -- ROUND OF 64
Katelyn Vu (UCSD) defeated Yen Nhi Huynh (UCI) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
Bella Pitchford (UCI) defeated Talia Harper (CSUN) 5-7, 7-5, 6-3
Daisy Maunupau (UCD) defeated Asha Gidwani (UCI) 6-3, 6-4
Carolyna Fowler (UCI) defeated Daisy Carpenter (LBSU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
 
MAIN DRAW SINGLES TOP HALF -- ROUND OF 32
Kayla Meraz (UCI) defeated Sophie Valentine (UCD) 6-1, 7-5
 
MAIN DRAW SINGLES BOTTOM HALF -- ROUND OF 32
Leroux (UCSB) defeated Carolyna Fowler (UCI) 6-2, 6-4
Nepomuceno (UH) defeated Bella Pitchford (UCI) 6-2, 6-2
 
MAIN DRAW DOUBLES -- ROUND OF 32
Raphaelle Leroux/Lucy Lu (UCSB) defeated Fowler/Pitchford (UCI) 8-6
De Simone/Carpenter (LBSU) defeated Hinton/H. Huynh (UCI) 8-2
Nepomuceno/Galindo (UH) defeated Gidwani/Khayat (UCI) 8-3
Ozereta/Lynch (CP) defeated Y. Huynh/Meraz (UCI) 8-4

UP NEXT
UC Irvine moves on to day two of the invitational with the remaining eligible Anteaters joining the action in the consolation rounds.