Box Score LOS ANGELES – UC Irvine dropped their season opening contest to No. 17 USC, 4-0, on Saturday afternoon.
 
All three Anteater doubles pairings earned at least one point against the Women of Troy. Both the duos of Bella Pitchford/Amanda Perez and Yen Nhi Huynh/Nour Khayat took one point from USC while Carolyna Fowler and Kayla Meraz went to battle at the third position, staying level with their opposition until the Trojans notched their fourth point of the set, 4-3, right as doubles competition was ending.
 
Moving into individual action, five UC Irvine stole at least one point in set one. Freshman Y. Huynh made an immediate impact in her first career match as an Anteater. In the fifth spot, she won four straight points after going down 1-0, dropped the sixth point, but won the final two games to take the set 6-2. It was the Anteater's lone set win of the match.
 
In set two of singles play, junior Haily Huynh bounced back from a first set loss to claim the first point. H. Huynh was up 4-3 in the set when the contest ended on the clinched point from No. 17 USC.
 
FROM THE PLAYERS
"I was very excited to play today. It is always fun to start a new season. Even though today I started off playing a bit tight, I was able to turn the match around and swing through. I think this match was a helpful learning experience for future matches. I think today was a good test for all of us as a team and this will be a good steppingstone for the rest of the season." –Haily Huynh
 
"I was really excited for my first college match today. I was a little bit nervous, but I tried to focus on the basics and playing my game. My first set I was playing aggressive at the baseline. I lost my momentum a little bit in the beginning second set, but I tried to stay in each game. It was a good start of the season, and I had a lot of fun today!" –Yen Nhi Huynh
 
SINGLES RESULTS
No. 45 Emma Charney (USC) def. Kayla Meraz (UCI) 6-0, 6-2
Jana Hossam (USC) vs. Amanda Perez (UCI) 6-3, 5-0 unf.
Maia Sung (USC) def. Carolyna Fowler (UCI) 6-1, 6-1
Sloane Morra (USC) def. Bella Pitchford (UCI) 6-2, 6-0
Simone Kay (USC) vs. Yen Nhi Huynh (UCI) 2-6, 5-2 unf.
Anya Murthy (USC) vs. Haily Huynh (UCI) 6-1, 3-4 unf.
 
DOUBLES RESULTS
Jana Hossam/Sloane Morra (USC) def. Bella Pitchford/Amanda Perez (UCI) 6-1
Lily Fairclough/Anya Murthy (USC) def. Yen Nhi Huynh/Nour Khayat (UCI) 6-1
Maia Sung/Immi Haddad (USC) vs. Carolyna Fowler/Kayla Meraz (UCI) 4-3 unf.
 
UP NEXT
The Anteaters make their home debut on Saturday Jan. 25 at 11 a.m. against Idaho.