Sakagawa Named Big West Player of the Year; Five βEaters Earn All-Conference Honors
April 30, 2026 | Men's Tennis
2026 All-Big West
IRVINE, Calif. -Β Graduate student Hiroki Sakagawa has been named the 2026 Big West Men's Tennis Player of the Year the conference office announced Thursday afternoon.
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It is the second consecutive season and 11th time overall an Anteater has taken home the league's top honor.
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Sakagawa was also one of five 'Eaters to earn all-conference accolades, receiving his second career first-team nod in singles. Junior Max Fardanesh and graduate student Tal Goodman were second-team selections, while freshman Greg Gamal garnered honorable mention recognition.
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In doubles, Fardanesh and graduate student Rohan Sachdev landed on the All-Big West First Team. Goodman and Sakagawa earned second-team distinction.
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Sakagawa, who was tabbed the Big West Player of the Week a conference-best four times this season, led UCI with a 14-3 dual match singles record, all at the top of the lineup. He went a perfect 5-0 in Big West play, including a straight-set victory over No. 87 Lucca Liu of UC Santa Barbara. It was his second ranked win of the year as he also defeated No. 103 Manvydas Balciunas of San Diego in non-conference action.
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Sakagawa delivered the match-clincher in two of UC Irvine's five Big West victories. Against Cal Poly, he upended Jovan Lubbe, 7-6 (7), 6-1 to seal the 4-1 win. He also pulled off a remarkable comeback against Lucas Bollinger in a 4-3 conference-opening triumph at UC Davis. After dropping the first set, Sakagawa was down 5-3 in the second, but saved a match and Aggie team clinch point at 40-40. He carried that momentum to a 7-5 victory and pulled ahead 4-2 in the third frame when rain halted play. Sakagawa returned to the courts the next morning to finish off a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 clinching win.
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Max Fardanesh picked up his second career All-Big West singles award after receiving honorable mention recognition last year. In 2026, Fardanesh played primarily at No. 2, finishing with eight victories, including three against Big West opponents. In the conference final, he held a 6-2, 3-3 lead over No. 64 Dominique Rolland of UC Santa Barbara when their match was abandoned. Fardanesh was named the Big West Player of the Week on March 18.
In his first season at UCI, Tal Goodman had eight singles victories and went 3-1 during the Big West regular season while playing primarily at No. 3. He also came back from a one-set deficit to defeat Cal Poly's Luc Hoejimans, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, in the Big West semifinals.
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Greg Gamal, who played at Nos. 5 and 6, closed out his freshman campaign with a 13-4 dual-match record, including a 5-0 mark in Big West action. Gamal clinched the Anteaters' 4-2 Big West semifinal victory over No. 72 Cal Poly with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 win against Sean Ferguson.
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Fardanesh and Sachdev tied for the team lead with seven dual-match doubles victories. Six of those wins came at the top of the lineup. Goodman and Sakagawa, who played primarily at No. 2, also went 7-4.
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UC Irvine finished the 2026 season with a 14-8 overall record, and went 5-1 in conference to claim a share of the Big West regular season title. The 'Eaters have won either a Big West regular season or tournament championship in each of the last five years (2022-26).
IRVINE, Calif. -Β Graduate student Hiroki Sakagawa has been named the 2026 Big West Men's Tennis Player of the Year the conference office announced Thursday afternoon.
Β
It is the second consecutive season and 11th time overall an Anteater has taken home the league's top honor.
Β
Sakagawa was also one of five 'Eaters to earn all-conference accolades, receiving his second career first-team nod in singles. Junior Max Fardanesh and graduate student Tal Goodman were second-team selections, while freshman Greg Gamal garnered honorable mention recognition.
Β
In doubles, Fardanesh and graduate student Rohan Sachdev landed on the All-Big West First Team. Goodman and Sakagawa earned second-team distinction.
Β
Sakagawa, who was tabbed the Big West Player of the Week a conference-best four times this season, led UCI with a 14-3 dual match singles record, all at the top of the lineup. He went a perfect 5-0 in Big West play, including a straight-set victory over No. 87 Lucca Liu of UC Santa Barbara. It was his second ranked win of the year as he also defeated No. 103 Manvydas Balciunas of San Diego in non-conference action.
Β
Sakagawa delivered the match-clincher in two of UC Irvine's five Big West victories. Against Cal Poly, he upended Jovan Lubbe, 7-6 (7), 6-1 to seal the 4-1 win. He also pulled off a remarkable comeback against Lucas Bollinger in a 4-3 conference-opening triumph at UC Davis. After dropping the first set, Sakagawa was down 5-3 in the second, but saved a match and Aggie team clinch point at 40-40. He carried that momentum to a 7-5 victory and pulled ahead 4-2 in the third frame when rain halted play. Sakagawa returned to the courts the next morning to finish off a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 clinching win.
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Max Fardanesh picked up his second career All-Big West singles award after receiving honorable mention recognition last year. In 2026, Fardanesh played primarily at No. 2, finishing with eight victories, including three against Big West opponents. In the conference final, he held a 6-2, 3-3 lead over No. 64 Dominique Rolland of UC Santa Barbara when their match was abandoned. Fardanesh was named the Big West Player of the Week on March 18.
In his first season at UCI, Tal Goodman had eight singles victories and went 3-1 during the Big West regular season while playing primarily at No. 3. He also came back from a one-set deficit to defeat Cal Poly's Luc Hoejimans, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, in the Big West semifinals.
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Greg Gamal, who played at Nos. 5 and 6, closed out his freshman campaign with a 13-4 dual-match record, including a 5-0 mark in Big West action. Gamal clinched the Anteaters' 4-2 Big West semifinal victory over No. 72 Cal Poly with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 win against Sean Ferguson.
Β
Fardanesh and Sachdev tied for the team lead with seven dual-match doubles victories. Six of those wins came at the top of the lineup. Goodman and Sakagawa, who played primarily at No. 2, also went 7-4.
Β
UC Irvine finished the 2026 season with a 14-8 overall record, and went 5-1 in conference to claim a share of the Big West regular season title. The 'Eaters have won either a Big West regular season or tournament championship in each of the last five years (2022-26).
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