Sunday, April 27
San Diego, Calif. / Barnes Tennis Center
11:00 AM
UC Irvine
4
vs
3
#34 UC Santa Barbara
Back-to-Back! UCI Takes Down UCSB to Win Second-Straight Big West Title
April 27, 2025 | Men's Tennis
SAN DIEGO - The 49th-ranked UC Irvine men's tennis team upended No. 34 UC Santa Barbara, 4-3, to win their second-straight Big West Championship, and third in the last four years, Sunday at Barnes Tennis Center.
Β
It was a fitting end to the 2025 conference tournament with senior and 70th-ranked Noah Zamora delivering the title-clinching point in dramatic fashion. With the match tied 3-all, Zamora and No. 63 Gianluca Brunkow were locked in a three-set battle on court one.
Β
After dropping a 6-3 decision in the first set, Zamora found his stride as he came storming back to take the second, 6-4. He continued to roll in the third frame where he never trailed. Zamora won the first two games and extended his lead to 5-2. Brunkow held serve to stay alive, but Zamora then dug deep to win a deuce point, securing the 3-6, 6-4, 6-3Β match-clinching win. The San Diego native closed out his Big West career with a 25-1 record against conference opponents.
Β
"If it wasn't for my teammates, we wouldn't be in this position," Zamora said in a postmatch interview. "Over this weekend, I have never felt so close to a team throughout my whole UCI tenure, and because of that I felt like I owed it to them to win. That was the only thing on my mind. There's strategy involved and all that, but it was all heart and playing for them. I just deeply have so much gratitude for my teammates, coaches and everyone supporting us."
Β
With the victory, the Anteaters (18-5) punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament, earning the conference's automatic bid. They will find out their opponent during the NCAA Selection Show Monday at 2:30 p.m. (PT).
Β
UC Santa Barbara (18-4) won the doubles point to take a 1-0 lead. The Gauchos came out firing on court one with a 6-2 victory. At No. 3, Max Fardanesh and Rithvik Krishna were down 5-1 to Diogo Morais/Charlie Underwood before taking the next three games. UCI's comeback attempt was cut short, however, as UCSB regrouped for the 6-4 win.
Β
Sohrob Amiryavari and Ruining Huang had raced out to a 4-0 advantage and were tied, 4-4, on court two when their match was abandoned.
Β
The Gauchos pulled ahead, 2-0, after claiming the first singles match of the afternoon. No. 116 Diogo Morais defeated Huang in straight sets at the fourth position.
Β
Rithvik Krishna got the 'Eaters on the board with an impressive 6-4, 6-3 victory over Dominique Rolland at No. 3. That started a momentum shift as Andy Nguyen followed with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph over Lucca Liu at No. 2. Nguyen extended his unbeaten streak to 18 matches where he is 15-0 with three contests that went unfinished.
Β
Max Fardanesh then took down Conrad Brown, 6-4, 6-4, at the fifth spot to give UCI its first lead. Fardanesh has won eight singles matches in a row.
Β
At No. 6, UC Santa Barbara's Matei Gavrea earned a hard-fought 7-6 (3), 6-4 victory over Sohrob Amiryavari to set up the epic championship-deciding match at the top of the lineup.
Β
This is UC Irvine's sixth Big West tournament title as the 'Eaters also brought home the hardware in 2024, 2022, 2011, 2010 and 2005.
Β
Β
It was a fitting end to the 2025 conference tournament with senior and 70th-ranked Noah Zamora delivering the title-clinching point in dramatic fashion. With the match tied 3-all, Zamora and No. 63 Gianluca Brunkow were locked in a three-set battle on court one.
Β
After dropping a 6-3 decision in the first set, Zamora found his stride as he came storming back to take the second, 6-4. He continued to roll in the third frame where he never trailed. Zamora won the first two games and extended his lead to 5-2. Brunkow held serve to stay alive, but Zamora then dug deep to win a deuce point, securing the 3-6, 6-4, 6-3Β match-clinching win. The San Diego native closed out his Big West career with a 25-1 record against conference opponents.
Β
"If it wasn't for my teammates, we wouldn't be in this position," Zamora said in a postmatch interview. "Over this weekend, I have never felt so close to a team throughout my whole UCI tenure, and because of that I felt like I owed it to them to win. That was the only thing on my mind. There's strategy involved and all that, but it was all heart and playing for them. I just deeply have so much gratitude for my teammates, coaches and everyone supporting us."
Β
With the victory, the Anteaters (18-5) punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament, earning the conference's automatic bid. They will find out their opponent during the NCAA Selection Show Monday at 2:30 p.m. (PT).
Β
UC Santa Barbara (18-4) won the doubles point to take a 1-0 lead. The Gauchos came out firing on court one with a 6-2 victory. At No. 3, Max Fardanesh and Rithvik Krishna were down 5-1 to Diogo Morais/Charlie Underwood before taking the next three games. UCI's comeback attempt was cut short, however, as UCSB regrouped for the 6-4 win.
Β
Sohrob Amiryavari and Ruining Huang had raced out to a 4-0 advantage and were tied, 4-4, on court two when their match was abandoned.
Β
The Gauchos pulled ahead, 2-0, after claiming the first singles match of the afternoon. No. 116 Diogo Morais defeated Huang in straight sets at the fourth position.
Β
Rithvik Krishna got the 'Eaters on the board with an impressive 6-4, 6-3 victory over Dominique Rolland at No. 3. That started a momentum shift as Andy Nguyen followed with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph over Lucca Liu at No. 2. Nguyen extended his unbeaten streak to 18 matches where he is 15-0 with three contests that went unfinished.
Β
Max Fardanesh then took down Conrad Brown, 6-4, 6-4, at the fifth spot to give UCI its first lead. Fardanesh has won eight singles matches in a row.
Β
At No. 6, UC Santa Barbara's Matei Gavrea earned a hard-fought 7-6 (3), 6-4 victory over Sohrob Amiryavari to set up the epic championship-deciding match at the top of the lineup.
Β
This is UC Irvine's sixth Big West tournament title as the 'Eaters also brought home the hardware in 2024, 2022, 2011, 2010 and 2005.
Β
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,3
#1 Singles Match
123
366
643
#2 Singles Match
12
66
43
#3 Singles Match
12
66
43
#4 Singles Match
12
13
66
#5 Singles Match
12
66
44
#6 Singles Match
12
64
76
Order of Finish:
4,3,2,5,6,1
Wednesday, April 15
Tuesday, March 31
Monday, February 23
Tuesday, February 17
