IRVINE, Calif. – Graduate student
Hiroki Sakagawa has been named the Big West Men's Tennis Player of the Week for the second time this season the conference office announced Wednesday afternoon.
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Sakagawa went 2-0 in singles and 1-1 in doubles to lift UC Irvine to a pair of wins over the weekend. On Saturday, Sakagawa teamed up with
Ruining Huang to clinch the doubles point against Saint Mary's with a 6-3 triumph on court three. He then took down Finn Dyer in straight sets (7-5, 6-4)Â at No. 1 singles to give the Anteaters a 3-0 lead in an eventual 4-3 victory.
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On Sunday, Sakagawa delivered the match-clincher at the top of the lineup to secure UCI's 4-3 win over San Diego State. The 'Eaters took a 3-2 lead with courts one and three still locked in a tight battle. Sakagawa then delivered in the clutch, closing out an impressive 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Aleksi Lofman to complete a 2-0 weekend for the 'Eaters.
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Sakagawa has won his last four decisions and owns a 4-1 record at No. 1 singles this year.
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UC Irvine returns to Anteater Tennis Stadium next Tuesday, March 3, when it hosts Villanova at 12 p.m.
