TEMPE, Ariz. – The UC Irvine men's tennis team had an impressive showing in the qualifying singles round of the ITA Southwest Regional Championships Thursday at Arizona State's Kiwanis Tennis Center.
 
Max Fardanesh, Greg Gamal, and Ruining Huang all won their respective matches to advance to the main draw, where they will join teammates Hiroki Sakagawa and Tal Goodman.
 
Fardanesh and Huang both received a first-round bye. Fardanesh then outlasted William Kleege of San Diego State, 7-6 (7), 7-5, while Huang took down Diordan Macababbad of Grand Canyon, 6-3, 6-4.
 
Gamal had a pair of straight-set victories over Big West opponents. He ousted UC Riverside's Jovan Pedroza, 6-3, 6-2, before upending Karel Fromel of UC Santa Barbara, 6-4, 6-4.
 
Nathaniel Suh won his first-round match against Toa Maeda (Hawai'i), 6-2, 6-2, but came up short against GCU's Brice Patoux, 6-0, 6-4. Sohrob Amiryavari dropped a hard-fought 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 decision to Hugh Winter of Pepperdine.
 
Mason Bui and Alex Guajardo both fell in the opening round, but won their consolation matches. Bui made quick work of Michael Chang (UCR), 6-3, 6-2. Guajardo also delivered a 6-4, 6-3 win over the Highlanders' Andrew Levine.
 
The 'Eaters will begin main draw play in both singles and doubles on Friday, Oct. 17.
 
 
ITA SOUTHWEST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Qualifying Singles – Round of 64
Greg Gamal (UCI) def. Jovan Pedroza (UCR) 6-3, 6-2
Nathaniel Suh (UCI) def. Toa Maeda (UH) 6-2, 6-2
Daniel Jankoski (GCU) def. Alex Guajardo (UCI) 7-5, 7-5
Alexey Efremov (UCR) def. Mason Bui (UCI) 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
 
Qualifying Singles – Round of 32
Max Fardanesh (UCI) def. William Kleege (SDSU) 7-6 (9-7), 7-5
Greg Gamal (UCI) def. Karel Fromel (UCSB) 6-4, 6-4
Ruining Huang (UCI) def. Diordan Macababbad (GCU) 6-3, 6-4
Brice Patoux (GCU) def. Nathaniel Suh (UCI) 6-0, 6-4
Hugh Winter (PEPP) def. Sohrob Amiryavari (UCI) 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
 
Qualifying Singles – Consolation
Mason Bui (UCI) def. Michael Chang (UCR) 6-3, 6-2
Alex Guajardo (UCI) def. Andrew Lavine (UCR) 6-4, 6-3