Saturday, February 21
Irvine, Calif.
1:00 PM
UC Irvine
4
vs
3
Saint Mary's
UCI Nets 4-3 Win over Saint Mary's
February 21, 2026 | Men's Tennis
IRVINE, Calif. β The UC Irvine men's tennis team earned its first win of the season with a 4-3 victory over Saint Mary's Saturday at Anteater Tennis Stadium.
The 'Eaters, who had faced three top-25 teams in their first four matches, are now 1-4.
Β
UCI started strong by taking the doubles point. Max Fardanesh and Tal Goodman set the tone with a 6-4 triumph over Finn Dyer/Thibaud Maxant at No. 1.
Ruining Huang and Hiroki Sakagawa followed suit as they dispatched Juan Pedro Etchecoin/Paulo Hugo Etchecoin, 6-3, at the third position to give the Anteaters a 1-0 lead. On court two, Sohrob Amiryavari and Alex Guajardo were a point away from getting in the win column as they were up 5-4 (40-30) when their match was abandoned.
Β
Huang carried the momentum into singles, making quick work of Francisco Duran, 6-1, 6-2, at the fifth spot. Sakagawa then defeated Dyer, 7-5, 6-4, at the top of the lineup to make it a 3-0 advantage for UC Irvine. It was Sakagawa's third-straight singles win.
Β
Saint Mary's (5-5) stayed alive with a victory at No. 2 before Greg Gamal delivered the match-clinching point on court six. Gamal won a first-set tiebreaker and continued to roll for a 7-6 (7-0), 6-2 win over Sam Simmonds on court six.
Β
The remaining two courts played out their matches with the Gaels taking both in three sets.
Β
The Anteaters are right back in action on Sunday, Feb. 22, when they welcome San Diego State to Irvine for a 1 p.m. match.
Β
The 'Eaters, who had faced three top-25 teams in their first four matches, are now 1-4.
Β
UCI started strong by taking the doubles point. Max Fardanesh and Tal Goodman set the tone with a 6-4 triumph over Finn Dyer/Thibaud Maxant at No. 1.
Ruining Huang and Hiroki Sakagawa followed suit as they dispatched Juan Pedro Etchecoin/Paulo Hugo Etchecoin, 6-3, at the third position to give the Anteaters a 1-0 lead. On court two, Sohrob Amiryavari and Alex Guajardo were a point away from getting in the win column as they were up 5-4 (40-30) when their match was abandoned.
Β
Huang carried the momentum into singles, making quick work of Francisco Duran, 6-1, 6-2, at the fifth spot. Sakagawa then defeated Dyer, 7-5, 6-4, at the top of the lineup to make it a 3-0 advantage for UC Irvine. It was Sakagawa's third-straight singles win.
Β
Saint Mary's (5-5) stayed alive with a victory at No. 2 before Greg Gamal delivered the match-clinching point on court six. Gamal won a first-set tiebreaker and continued to roll for a 7-6 (7-0), 6-2 win over Sam Simmonds on court six.
Β
The remaining two courts played out their matches with the Gaels taking both in three sets.
Β
The Anteaters are right back in action on Sunday, Feb. 22, when they welcome San Diego State to Irvine for a 1 p.m. match.
Β
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,3
#1 Singles Match
12
Finn Dyer / 0 [SMC]
54
76
#2 Singles Match
123
Thibaud Maxant / 0 [SMC]
067
636
#3 Singles Match
12
Paulo Hugo Etchecoin / 0 [SMC]
66
43
#4 Singles Match
123
Juan Pedro Etchecoin / 0 [SMC]
646
364
#5 Singles Match
12
Francisco Duran / 0 [SMC]
12
66
#6 Singles Match
12
Sam Simmonds / 0 [SMC]
62
76
Order of Finish:
5,1,2,6,3,4
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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