IRVINE, Calif. – 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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
The remaining two courts played out their matches with the Gaels taking both in three sets.
 
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.