UC Irvine defeated UCSB by a 4-3 score in a women’s tennis semifinal match Saturday morning.
The Anteaters captured the doubles point to start the match. Courtney Byron and Kristina Smith pulled out a tight one at No. 2, defeating Jordan Dockendorf and Natalia Lozano 8-6. The previous matches went to UCI at No. 3 and UCSB at No. 1.
In singles, UCSB tied the match at No. 3 when Tova Hausman defeated Stephanie Hammel 6-1, 6-1. Byron registered a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 1 against Sofia Novak as the Anteaters retook the lead at 2-1. The Gauchos evened the score again as Jill Damion knocked off Brooke Bartlett 6-3, 7-5 at No. 4.
UCSB grabbed its first lead of the match, 3-2, getting a 6-0, 7-6 (8) win from Lozano at No. 2 against April Bisharat.
The Anteaters claimed the final two points from the No. 5 and No. 6 positions. Rebecca Kwan defeated Annabel Gledden 6-0, 6-3 at No. 5 to tie the contest at 3-3. The clinching point came at No. 6 as Smith won 6-1, 7-5 over Bryanna Ojeda.
UCI improved to 12-10 on the season. UCSB dropped to 13-11.
DOUBLES
1. Hausman/Ojeda (UCSB) def. Holladay/Kwan (UCI) – 8-3
2. Byron/Smith (UCI) def. Dockendorf/Lozano (UCSB) – 8-6
3. Bartlett/Bisharat (UCI) def. Damion/Onaga (UCSB) – 8-3
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
SINGLES
1. Courtney Byron (UCI) def. Sofia Novak (UCSB) – 6-2, 6-3
2. Natalia Lozano (UCSB) def. April Bisharat (UCI) – 6-0, 7-6 (8)
3. Tova Hausman (UCSB) def. Stephanie Hammel (UCI) – 6-1, 6-1
4. Jill Damion (UCSB) def. Brooke Bartlett (UCI) – 6-3, 7-5
5. Rebecca Kwan (UCI) def. Annabel Gledden (UCSB) – 6-0, 6-3
6. Kristina Smith (UCI) def. Bryanna Ojeda (UCSB) – 6-1, 7-5
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 4, 2, 5, 6
