Box Score IRVINE, Calif. - Sofia Lazzaroni and Niki Shahbazi each won their first singles matches of the season on Sunday afternoon at Anteater Tennis Stadium, but UC Riverside fell 4-3 in a hard-fought contest with UC Irvine.

Lazzaroni was in a battle with her singles opponent for the second consecutive Big West match, dropping the first set in a tiebreak before storming back for a 6-0 win in set two. The junior willed through set three, coming out with the dramatic 11-9 win. Shahbazi had an easier time on court five with a 6-2, 6-4 win. 

Sydney Tran remained a perfect 3-0 on court six this season with a 6-2, 6-4 win, making it UCR's third match of the season with three singles wins. 

The Highlanders will step away from Big West action shortly, hosting Toledo on March 5 at 11:00 a.m.

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UC Riverside 3, UC Irvine 4

Doubles

1. Alyssia Fossorier/Jessica Tsukiji (UCI) def. Mahli Silpachai/Hanh Pham (UCR) - 6-1
2. Ysabel Gonzalez-Rico/Jenna Schlatter (UCI) def. Niki Shahbazi/Sydney Tran (UCR) - 6-3
3. Dasee Carter/Emily Fowler (UCI) def. Serina Saltzen/Sofia Lazzaroni (UCR) - 6-4

Singles

1. Ysabel Gonzalez-Rico (UCI) def. Mahli Silpachai (UCR) - 6-0, 7-5
2. Jessica Tsukiji (UCI) def. Hanh Pham (UCR) - 6-2, 6-1
3. Sofia Lazzaroni (UCR) def. Alyssia Fossorier (UCI) - 5-7, 6-0, 11-9
4. Emily Fowler (UCI) def. Serina Saltzen (UCR) - 6-3, ret. 
5. Niki Shahbazi (UCR) def. Dasee Carter (UCI) - 6-2, 6-4
6. Sydney Tran (UCR) def. Shreya Pavani (UCI) - 6-2, 6-4

Team records: UC Riverside 2-8, UC Irvine 3-7