Connor Hance (Photo: Scott Chandler)Connor Hance (Photo: Scott Chandler)
Scott Chandler

Connor Hance clinched Tuesday's win over UC Irvine. (Photo: Scott Chandler)

No. 4 UCLA Unblemished Versus UC Irvine

Men's Tennis

Bruins did not drop a set in 7-0 nonconference win.

LOS ANGELES – With conference showdowns against No. 3 Stanford and No. 30 California looming, the No. 4 UCLA men's tennis team did not overlook visiting UC Irvine Tuesday, dispatching the Anteaters by a 7-0 score. The Bruins did not surrender a set on the afternoon, securing their eighth shutout of the season.

The Bruins' Court 3 duo of Bryce Pereira and Ben Goldberg finished first in doubles play, dispatching the Anteaters' team of Luis Lopez and Daniel Gealer, 6-3. With the Court 2 teams locked in a close one, the defending Pac-12 Doubles Team of the Year came through. Martin Redlicki smashed an ace past the Anteater observer to secure another 6-3 win on the top court, improving Redlicki-Evan Zhu's record to 8-2. The Anteater tandem of Mason Hansen-Luca Marquard was on the losing end of the decision.

Playing on the singles courts for the first time since Feb. 23, Austin Rapp and Goldberg of the Bruins did not miss a beat. Austin Rapp made quick work of Vatsal Bajpai on Court 5, defeating the Anteater junior by a 6-1, 6-2 score. Goldberg later took care of Mason Hansen on Court 6, 6-2, 6-4.

No. 45 Smith was second off the singles courts, topping Sasha Krasnov on Court 2, 6-1, 6-3. Fellow freshman Connor Hance would provide the clinching victory, topping Daniel Gealer of the Anteaters on Court 4, 6-2, 6-2. The matches were played out, with Goldberg picking up the day's next victory.

Luis Lopez of the Anteaters fought back to challenge No. 102 Zhu on the top court, but the Bruin sophomore proved too much, capturing a 6-2, 7-5 victory. No. 66 Logan Staggs also endured a 7-5 second set, but the senior ensured the Bruins would not drop a set, defeating Luca Marquard on Court 3, 6-3, 7-5.

Next up for UCLA is a pair of Pac-12 matches, as Stanford and Cal are set to check in. The match will mark the second meeting of the season between the Bruins and Cardinal, as Stanford captured a 4-3 win in nonconference play (Feb. 4). Friday's match versus Stanford will begin at 3 p.m., while Saturday's faceoff with Cal will start at 2 p.m.

Tennis Match Results
UC Irvine vs UCLA
Mar 27, 2018 at Los Angeles, CA
(Los Angeles Tennis Center)

#4 UCLA 7, UC Irvine 0

Singles competition
1. #102 Evan Zhu (UCLA) def. Luis Lopez (UCI) 6-2, 7-5
2. #45 Keegan Smith (UCLA) def. Sasha Krasnov (UCI) 6-1, 6-3
3. #66 Logan Staggs (UCLA) def. Luca Marquard (UCI) 6-3, 7-5
4. Connor Hance (UCLA) def. Daniel Gealer (UCI) 6-2, 6-2
5. Austin Rapp (UCLA) def. Vatsal Bajpai (UCI) 6-1, 6-2
6. Ben Goldberg (UCLA) def. Mason Hansen (UCI) 6-2, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Martin Redlicki/Evan Zhu (UCLA) def. Mason Hansen/Luca Marquard (UCI) 6-3
2. #33 Keegan Smith/Austin Rapp (UCLA) vs. Vatsal Bajpai/Bruce Man-Son-Hing (UCI) 4-5, unfinished
3. Bryce Pereira/Ben Goldberg (UCLA) def. Luis Lopez/Daniel Gealer (UCI) 6-3

Match Notes:
UC Irvine 10-8
UCLA 17-2; National ranking #4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (5,2,4,6,1,3)
T-2:08