SAN DIEGO – Hiroki Sakagawa earned a ranked singles win to put UC Irvine men's tennis on the board in a 6-1 loss to No. 11 San Diego Friday at Hogan Tennis Center.
 
Sakagawa, who missed last season with an injury, is off to an impressive start in 2026 with his second-straight win at the top of the singles lineup. Against the Toreros, Sakagawa came back from a one-set deficit to defeat No. 103 Manvydas Balciunas in a 10-point tiebreak. After dropping the opener, 6-4, Sakagawa took control with a 6-3 victory in the second frame. He carried the momentum into the third where he topped Balciunas, 10-6.
 
Sohrob Amiryavari fell just short to Neo Niedner in a tightly-contested match on court four. Niedner took the first set, 7-5, and led 5-4 in the second. Amiryavari then dug deep to force a tiebreaker, but Niedner was able to hold on for the 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) victory.
 
Ruining Huang was in a similar position at the fifth spot where he was down a set and trailing 5-4 in the second before battling to a tiebreaker. His attempt to push the match to a decisive third frame was thwarted by Lambert Ruland, who edged Huang, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6).
 
The 11th-ranked Toreros (5-2) took the doubles point with wins at Nos. 2 and 3. Tal Goodman and Max Fardanesh were down 5-3 against No. 69 Adrien Berrut/Ruland when their match was abandoned on court one. In singles, USD clinched the match with straight-set victories at Nos. 2, 6, and 3.
 
The 'Eaters (0-3) continue a tough road stretch as they travel to No. 21 USC for a 2 p.m. showdown on Sunday, Feb. 8.