The UC Irvine Anteaters faced a tough challenge against No. 32 UC Santa Barbara, losing narrowly 4-2. The defeat marked UCI鈥檚 first conference loss, ending their four-match win streak, while UCSB extended their own win streak to eight matches. Hiroki Sakagawa delivered a notable performance with his second ranked win of the season, leading the Anteaters' comeback efforts after trailing 3-0. Greg Gamal also contributed to the scoring, but UCI ultimately fell short as UCSB clinched the match with a close victory on the remaining courts.

By the Numbers
  • UCI's Hiroki Sakagawa earned his 11th singles victory against No. 87 Lucca Liu.
  • UC Irvine's record now stands at 11-7 overall and 3-1 in Big West play.
State of Play
  • UCI trailed 3-0 but rallied with singles victories from Sakagawa and Gamal.
  • Huang's match was abandoned while he was leading at 4-1 in the third set.
What's Next

UCI will face Hawai'i at home on April 17, followed by a match against UC San Diego on April 18, marking the last week of the regular season.

Bottom Line

The Anteaters demonstrated resilience despite the loss, showcasing strong individual performances as they prepare for the final matches of the season aiming to regain momentum in conference play.