IRVINE, Calif. – Losing its first match in nearly a month, UC Irvine women's tennis dropped a 4-3 final to Richmond in Irvine on Tuesday. The defeat ends a seven-match win streak, UC Irvine's longest since winning 11 straight in 2013-14.

Starting with a doubles point that went down to the wire, UCI (9-5, 0-2) lost a tightly contested match overall. After dropping a No. 2 line match for the first doubles decision of the day, the Anteaters battled back with Quin Brady and Bella Pitchford winning on the No. 3 line, 7-5. Back on the No. 1 line, UCI dropped a hotly contested match that came down to a 10-point-tiebreaker to fall down 1-0 early against the Spiders (3-7).

In singles play, UC Irvine continued its tough match with Richmond, taking three singles but watching another match-deciding set go to the Spiders. Getting the Anteaters on the board from the No. 5 line was Pitchford, who is undefeated in her last seven singles matches including two clinches for UCI. After tying Richmond at one, UCI dropped a No. 6 line match but re-tied the match at two with a three-set victory from Yen Nhi Huynh at No. 1. 

The Anteaters took a brief 3-2 lead as Carolyna Fowler came back from being down a set to win from the No. 3 spot in the lineup, but lost on the No. 2 line to set up a winner-takes-all match on the No. 4 line that UCI ultimately dropped in three sets.

The loss is the Anteaters first since Feb. 15 (Cal State Fullerton) and closes out the five-match non-conference portion of the six match UC Irvine homestand.

SINGLES RESULTS

1. Yen Nhi Huynh (UCI) def. Sofia Barbulescu (RICH) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 

2. Elizabeth Novak (RICH) def. Amanda Perez (UCI) 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 

3. Carolyna Fowler (UCI) def. Abby Lee (RICH) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 

4. Lucy Webber (RICH) def. Haily Huynh (UCI) 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 

5. Bella Pitchford (UCI) def. Beatriz Guerra (RICH) 6-1, 6-4 

6. Lainey O'Neil (RICH) def. Maily Huynh (UCI) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3

DOUBLES RESULTS

1. Abby Lee/Sofia Barbulescu (RICH) def. Carolyna Fowler/Amanda Perez (UCI) 7-6 (10-8) 

2. Lainey O'Neil/Lucy Webber (RICH) def. Yen Nhi Huynh/Maily Huynh (UCI) 7-5 

3. Bella Pitchford/Quin Brady (UCI) def. Beatriz Guerra/Elizabeth Novak (RICH) 7-5

Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1*); Singles (5,6,1,3,2,4*)

UP NEXT

The Anteaters now have 13 days off before facing Big West opponent UC Riverside at home on Mar. 23 for a 2:00 p.m. first serve.