STANFORD, Calif. – The 36th-ranked UC Irvine men's tennis team dropped a 4-0 decision to No. 6 Stanford Sunday afternoon at Taube Pavilion at Arrillaga Tennis Center.
 
The Anteaters (4-3) saw a three-match win streak come to an end with their first loss since Jan. 20. UCI's three losses on the year have come at the hands of the Cardinal, USC and UCLA, all of who are currently ranked among the top-45 in the nation.
 
Stanford (8-2) took the doubles point with victories on courts two and three. The home team then earned straight-set singles wins at Nos. 3, 4 and 5 to clinch the match.
 
The 'Eaters put up a fight at the top of the singles lineup with No. 54 Noah Zamora and Andy Nguyen both going to a third set against a ranked opponent.
 
After falling to No. 18 Samir Banerjee in the opener, Zamora bounced back with a 6-3 victory in the second. They had just started the third frame on court one when the Cardinal clinched.
 
Nguyen got out to an impressive start against No. 80 Max Basing at the second position with a 6-2 first-set victory. Basing regrouped for a 6-3 triumph in the second, while Nguyen was up 1-0 in the decisive frame.
 
Lawee Sherif was also in a tightly-contested battle at No. 6. He came up short in the first set but led 3-2, and 40-0, in the second.
 
UCI will be back in action on Saturday, March 1, when it kicks off a nine-match homestand against Portland.