IRVINE, Calif. – The Anteaters took down Lehigh, 6-1, en route to their third straight win.
 
Due to disturbances from weather conditions, the match was played with singles first and then went to the doubles portion.
 
UC Irvine (7-5, 1-1) won the first four singles matches in order to claim the overall match. Maily Huynh at No. 5 was the first one to finish on the afternoon with her 6-3, 6-3 defeat of Lehigh's Allyce Gaborik then Bella Pitchford finished with a 6-4, 6-2 result against Skye Yonehara at No. 6.
 
At the top of the lineup card, Kayla Meraz pulled out the 6-3, 6-3 victory over Hamsa Javagal. For the third consecutive match, Haily Huynh clinched the win for the 'Eaters as she fought through a tough 7-5 first game and then ended 6-2 in the second. Wrapping up the individual matches, freshman Yen Nhi Huynh faltered 6-2 in the first set but overcame the first game loss with two straight wins ending 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 at the No. 3 spot.
 
Moving on to doubles action, UCI handled business as the pairing of H. Huynh and Meraz downed the Mountain Hawkes Maggie Forkner and Allyce Gaborik, 6-1, on court one. Down on the third court, Asha Gidwani and Nour Khayat defeated their opponents 6-4 for the doubles point.
 
FROM HEAD COACH ELIZABETH FERRIS SMITH
"We were excited and fortunate to get the match in today. Long day of waiting around but we handled it well. We got over our nerves and frustrations quickly and saw what our opponent's weakness were and looked to expose them. In doubles we are playing as pairs on every court. We are setting each other up well and making calculated moves. We are looking forward to getting into conference play soon!"
 
FROM THE PLAYERS
"I think this match showed us as a team that we can fight through any sort of adversity especially with the weather and match changes. During my match today, I was down 0-4 in the first set and won the next 6 games to win it 6-4, it really showed me how to fight back when I'm down and stay disciplined within myself. I think we all left our egos at the door and played solid tennis to get the job done today. Great match to go into the following week and build off during practice.  Go 'Eaters!" –Bella Pitchford
 
SINGLES RESULTS
Kayla Meraz (UCI) def. Hamsa Javagal (LEHIGH) 6-3, 6-3 2
Maggie Forkner (LEHIGH) def. Carolyna Fowler (UCI) 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
Yen Nhi Huynh (UCI) def. Alina Shyani (LEHIGH) 2-6, 6-1, 6-3
Haily Huynh (UCI) def. Ronit Khromchenko (LEHIGH) 7-5, 6-2
Maily Huynh (UCI) def. Allyce Gaborik (LEHIGH) 6-3, 6-3
Bella Pitchford (UCI) def. Skye Yonehara (LEHIGH) 6-4, 6-2
 
DOUBLES RESULTS
Kayla Meraz/Haily Huynh (UCI) def. Maggie Forkner/Allyce Gaborik (LEHIGH) 6-1
Carolyna Fowler/Yen Nhi Huynh (UCI) def. Giselle Vlassis/Hannah Letzer (LEHIGH) 6-2
Asha Gidwani/Nour Khayat (UCI) def. Hamsa Javagal/Audrey Harrington (LEHIGH) 6-4
 
EXHIBITION SINGLES
Lindsay Kim (UCI) def. Hannah Letzer (LEHIGH) 7-5, 6-2
Nour Khayat (UCI) def. Audrey Harrington (LEHIGH) 6-2, 6-2
 
EXHIBITION DOUBLES
Alina Shyani/Ronit Khromchenko (LEHIGH) def. Bella Pitchford/Lindsay Kim (UCI) 7-6 (7-3)
 
UP NEXT
UC Irvine will take ten days off before regrouping for a Big West battle at CSUN on Mar. 22.