IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine dropped a 6-1 match to Black and Blue rival No. 72 Long Beach State inside the Anteater Tennis Stadium Friday afternoon.
 
The Anteaters (10-11, 1-7 Big West) jumped out in front first in doubles action as Carolyna Fowler and Yen Nhi Huynh downed the Beach's Johnna Hiesmair and Thea Jagare on court two. Kayla Meraz and Haily Huynh made Cecilia Costa and Paulina Franco fight for it, but LBSU grabbed the 7-5 win on court one, pointing all eyes at No. 3 for the tiebreaker. Amanda Perez and Maily Huynh kept it close on court three, but fell 6-4, giving Long Beach State (14-5, 6-3 Big West) the doubles point.
 
The Beach rattled off three straight singles wins at No. 5, No. 2, and No. 3 to clinch the match overall. UCI did not let up easy in the matches at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, bring at least one set in each of those contests to 7-5. Meraz forced extra points in her match at the top of the lineup, but it was not enough as LBSU went for their fourth individual win. Yen Nhi Huynh put the Anteaters on the board with her comeback 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) victory at the No. 4 spot. The win for Y. Huynh brought her to 14 in a single season to tie the team best.
 
FROM THE PLAYERS
"We went into doubles with a lot of energy and got a head start. We lost a little bit of focus, but we had each other's back on the points that mattered most. We had confidence in our game style and in each other. In singles the first set was tough as she angled the ball well. Second set I adjusted and stepped in and cut the angles off. Third set was a mental battle, and I focused on each point and did my best to stay consistent. The team took a tough loss, but we're all working to play more of our style." –Yen Nhi Huynh
 
SINGLES RESULTS
Diana De Simone (LBSU) def. Kayla Meraz (UCI) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
Cecilia Costa (LBSU) def. Carolyna Fowler (UCI) 7-5, 6-0
Thea Jagare (LBSU) def. Amanda Perez (UCI) 6-4, 7-5
Yen Nhi Huynh (UCI) def. Daria Malaescu (LBSU) 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)
Pamela Badillo (LBSU) def. Haily Huynh (UCI) 6-1, 6-0
Daisy Carpenter (LBSU) def. Maily Huynh (UCI) 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
 
DOUBLES RESULTS
Cecilia Costa/Paulina Franco (LBSU) def. Kayla Meraz/Haily Huynh (UCI) 7-5
Carolyna Fowler/Yen Nhi Huynh (UCI) def. Johanna Hiesmair/Thea Jagare (LBSU) 6-3
Diana De Simone/Daria Malaescu (LBSU) def. Amanda Perez/Maily Huynh (UCI) 6-4
 
EXHIBITION SINGLES RESULTS
Bella Pitchford (UCI) def. Paulino Franco (LBSU) 6-2
 
EXHIBITION DOUBLES RESULTS
Pamela Badillo/Daisy Carpenter (LBSU) def. Bella Pitchford/Lindsay Kim (UCI) 6-3
 
UP NEXT
The 'Eaters close out the season at home with Hawai'i on Saturday (Apr. 19) at 2 p.m. and they will honor senior Kayla Meraz after the match.