DAVIS, Calif. - After yesterday's weather delay, Hiroki Sakagawa came back to close out a three-set win at No. 1 singles to clinch the UC Irvine men's tennis team's 4-3 Big West opening victory over UC Davis Wednesday at Marya Welch Tennis Center.

The Anteaters, who battled back from a late deficit for their second-straight 4-3 win, improved to 9-6 overall and 1-0 in Big West play. They handed the Aggies (9-9, 2-1 Big West) their first conference loss.

On Tuesday, the 'Eaters rallied from being down 3-2 to tie it up before rain halted play at the top of the singles lineup. Sakagawa had dropped a tough 6-4 decision to Lucas Bollinger in the opener and was trailing 5-3 in the second, but continued to fight, saving a match and UCD team clinch point at 40-40. He carried that momentum all the way to a 7-5 victory and pulled ahead 4-2 in the decisive third frame. Sakagawa continued to deliver in the clutch this morning, finishing off the gutsy 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 match-clinching win. Sakagawa owns a team-best 9-3 singles record on the season.
 
UC Davis had secured the doubles point with wins at Nos. 2 and 3. UCI quickly responded in singles with Greg Gamal upending Eduardo Gonzalez, 6-3, 6-2, on court six. Gamal has won eight of his last nine decisions. Just minutes later, UC Irvine pulled ahead as Tal Goodman dispatched Perry Di Giulio, 6-1, 6-0, at the third position.
 
The Aggies punched back with straight-set victories at Nos. 2 and 4 to reclaim a 3-2 edge, but Ruining Huang kept the Anteaters alive on court five. Huang rebounded from a first-set loss for a crucial 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Nadaul Cheam to knot the team score at 3-3.

UC Irvine will continue Big West action next Monday, April 6, when it welcomes UC Riverside to Anteater Tennis Stadium.