SANTA BARBARA, Calif.- The No. 50 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (12-7) were handed their first loss in eight matches Saturday as they were defeated by the No. 74 UC Irvine Anteaters (12-7) by a score of 4-1.
The Anteaters were able to get the doubles point after three close matches. Natalie Da Silveira combined with Priscila Gracia to get the only doubles win for the Gauhcos at the number three spot, defeating Arisha Ladhani and Andrea Duva 8-6.
Stacy Yam and Jaimee Gilbertson suffered their first loss as a pair, losing to Mazy Watrous and Sarah Gong in a tiebreaker 8-7 (2).
Melissa Baker and Luisa Ortiz Candido had a chance to secure the doubles point for the Gauchos, but weren't able to come out on top in a tie breaker , losing to Kat and Ali Facey 8-7(4).
The Gauchos are usually strong in singles, which have carried them throughout their seven match win streak, but Saturday proved to be a tougher match.
Candido started off the singles round with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Duva to tie the match at one, but not much longer, Kat Facey was able to take down Natalie Da Silveira 6-2, 6-4 to give the Anteaters the 2-1 lead.
Yam wasn't able to find her groove at the number five spot, and fell to Watrous 6-3, 6-3 which gave UC Irvine the 3-1 lead.
All the three remaining matches were close. Both Baker and Gilbertson were in their third sets, while April Scatliffe was battling in her second.
Scatliffe fell in the first set 1-6, but was able to stay with her opponent Ali Facey in the second. She was able to bring the score to a 6-6 tie, but couldn't quite come through in the tie breaker. The final score had Ali Facey on top 6-1, 7-6(2).
All of the other matches were stopped and UCI was awarded the 4-1 win.
This was a rare Big West loss for the Gauchos, who now stand at 4-1 in conference play. They will look to bounce back in a big match on Friday April 10 as they travel to Long Beach to take on Long Beach State at 2PM.
No. 74 UC IRVINE 4, No. 50 UC SANTA BARBARA 1
UCI (12-7, 5-1) | UCSB (12-7, 4-1)
April 4, 2015
Santa Barbara, Calif.
Doubles Compeition
1. Facey/Facey (UCI) def. Baker/Candido (UCSB) – 8-7(4)
2. Gong/Watrous (UCI) def. Gilbertson/Yam (UCSB) – 8-7(2)
3. Da Silveira/Garcia (UCSB) def. Duva/Ladhani (UCI) – 8-6
Singles Competition
1. Sarah Gong (UCI) vs. Jaimee Gilbertson (UCSB) 4-6, 6-2, 4-1 (unf.)
2. Kat Facey (UCI) def. Natalie Da Silveira (UCSB) 6-2, 6-4
3. Arisha Ladhani (UCI) vs. Melissa Baker (UCSB) 2-6, 6-2, 3-4 (unf.)
4. Ali Facey (UCI) def. April Scatliffe (UCSB) 6-1, 7-6(2)
5. Mazy Watrous (UCI) def. Stacy Yam (UCSB) 6-3, 6-2
6. Luisa Ortiz Candido (UCSB) def. Andrea Duva (UCI) – 6-3, 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles – 3, 2, 1 | Singles – 6, 2, 5, 4
UC Irivine (12-7, BWC 5-1); National Ranking 74
UC Santa Barbara (12-7, BWC 4-1); National Ranking 50
