SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Blue and Gold will remain at home to face UC Irvine on Sunday, Apr. 12 at 12 p.m., before traveling to UC Riverside the next day for a 10 a.m. matchup against the Highlanders.

LAST TIME OUT
In their last match, the Gauchos swept the Aggies in dominant fashion.

UC Santa Barbara seized early control with a strong doubles showing, as the No. 53 pair of Miguel Avendano and Lucca Liu and the duo of Lorenzo Brunkow and Diogo Morais each earned 6-1 victories to secure the point. 

The Gauchos carried that momentum into singles, where Charlie Underwood and Diogo Morais picked up straight-set wins to build a commanding lead before Lucca Liu clinched the sweep with a 6-1, 6-2 victory at the top spot, marking UCSB's third consecutive conference win.

ABOUT THE ANTEATERS
Coming into the week, UC Irvine holds a 10-6 overall record and sits third in the conference standings. Both the Gauchos and Anteaters enter the week undefeated in Big West play. UCI has struggled more on the road with a 1-5 record, but is currently riding a three-match win streak, most recently sweeping UC Riverside 7-0.

Five of the Anteaters' six losses this season have come against teams ranked among the top 65 nationally. Hiroki Sakagawa and Max Fardanesh have combined for four Big West Player of the Week honors this year. In 2025, UC Irvine captured its second-straight Big West Championship and third in the last four seasons.

ABOUT THE HIGHLANDERS
UC Riverside are 2-19 on the season. They are currently sitting at the bottom of the conference, having gone without picking up a win in conference play. They look to break a 7-match loss streak. 

The Gauchos will be the second and highest ranked opponent that the Highlanders are set to face this season.