IRVINE, Calif. – The Anteaters came up short to the Broncos, 4-3, in a Saturday morning match at the Anteater Tennis Stadium.

Santa Clara took the doubles point at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions, 6-4 and 6-3, respectively.
 
Three straight wins from UC Irvine in singles action put them ahead, 3-1.
 
Amanda Perez had the first individual win for the 'Eaters at the No. 3 spot. Perez was down 4-2 deuce in the second set and brought it to 4-4. The sophomore went down again 5-4 before reeling off three games to win the set and the match.
 
Kayla Meraz saw success at No. 2 singles with her 6-4, 6-4 victory before Carolyna Fowler battled to a 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 three set win.
 
Santa Clara collected the remaining three individual points to take the match, 4-3.

"Great college match today! Fun to coach and be a part of," remarked head coach Elizabeth Ferris Smith. "I'm proud of the team for how hard they fought after losing the doubles point. It's very difficult to win four out of six singles matches, but we were only a couple points away from doing so. It was so big for Kayla, Amanda, and Carolyna to close out their matches the way they did. Jenna, Haily, and Larissa were right there. They all overcame deficits and brought their matches within reach of winning. I think that's what makes it extra tough though. I liked how they handled on court coaching. As a staff, we really pushed the team out of their comfort zones because we knew we had to raise the level to win. We will be back at it on the practice court making a few tweaks for doubles and we will be ready to go for another road trip."
 
"It was also fun to welcome kids for the girls and women in sports day celebration. Having them here made the environment more fun and the team did a great job interacting with them."

DOUBLES
JennaMarie Gordon/Velizara Fileva (SCU) defeated Carolyna Fowler/Emily Fowler (UCI), 6-4
Kayla Meraz/Jenna Schlatter (UCI) defeated Finley Kalinic/Varya Zlotnik (SCU), 6-3  
Haily Huynh/Amanda Perez (UCI) vs. Kacey Feng/Gabriela Teves (SCU), 4-4
 
SINGLES DRAWS
Gordon (SCU) defeated Jenna Schlatter (UCI), 7-5, 6-4  
Kayla Meraz (UCI) defeated Kalinic (SCU), 6-4, 6-4
Amanda Perez (UCI) defeated Fileva (SCU), 6-4, 7-5
Tevez (SCU) defeated Haily Huynh (UCI), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Zlotnik (SCU) defeated Larissa Teramura (UCI), 6-3, 2-6, 6-2  
Carolyna Fowler (UCI) defeated Antonova (SCU), 6-4, 2-6, 6-1  

EXHIBITION
Nour Khayat/Larissa Teramura (UCI) vs. Maria Antonova/Olivia Wiese (SCU),
Emily Fowler (UCI) Feng (SCU), 6-2 (one set singles)
Mikaela Hinton (UCI) Feng (SCU), 6-4 (one set singles)
Cydney Yamamoto (UCI) Wiese (SCU), 6-3 (one set singles)
Wiese (SCU) defeated Mia Totah (UCI), 6-2 (one set singles)

WHAT THE PLAYERS HAD TO SAY:
"I'm proud of the grit that everyone had in their matches today. I am also proud of myself for staying coachable and listening to Liz to get myself the third set. Everyone put their hearts out on court today and it was such a fun match to watch. Go 'Eaters!" –Carolyna Fowler
 
"I'm really proud of the fight that the team brought today and this is only the beginning. I can't wait to see the potential that unfolds in the upcoming matches! Go 'Eaters!" –Kayla Meraz
 
UP NEXT
The Anteaters will trek to Northern California for three matches: Jessup (Feb. 16), Sacramento State (Feb. 17), and UC Davis (Feb. 18).