HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i women's tennis team dropped a close 4-3 match to No. 65 UC Irvine, Friday at the UH Tennis Complex. UH also lost a 4-3 decision to San Diego State yesterday.

The Rainbow Wahine played smart doubles to win two of the three doubles matches to earn the doubles point. The duo of senior Melinda Wong and freshman Anja-Vanessa Peter earned an 8-5 victory over Clare Fermin and Rebecca Kwan at the No. 1 court. The team of junior Sophie Kobuch and freshman Aglae Van den Bergh earned a clutch 9-8(3) victory against Ali Borowicz and Courtney Byron at the No. 3 position to clinch the doubles point. Kobuch and Van den Bergh have won two straight doubles matches.  

In singles play, the Rainbow Wahine won two of the six matches, to fall just short of the dual match victory. Sophomore Natasha Zorec blew past Fermin in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2 at the No. 2 court and freshman Alyssa Nafarrete outlasted Kwan in the third set tiebreaker, 7-6(4), 4-6, 1-0(7) at No. 5. At the No. 6 court, Van den Bergh fell in three sets to Kamehameha Schools graduate Heidi Kaloi, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1. 

The Rainbow Wahine will next embark on a five match Southern California road trip, beginning on Feb. 17 against UC Santa Barbara.  UH will also face Cal State Fullerton, No. 3 UCLA, Cal State Northridge, and San Diego.

No. 65 UC Irvine def. Hawai'i, 4-3

Doubles (UH wins doubles point)

1. Peter/Wong (UH) def. Fermin/Kwan (UCI), 8-5

2. Hammel/Kaloi (UCI) def. Nafarrete/Zorec (UH), 8-5

3. Kobuch/Van den Bergh (UH) def. Borowicz/Byron (UCI), 9-8(3)

Singles

1. Stephanie Hammel (UCI) def. Sophie Kobuch (UH), 6-2, 6-4

2. Natasha Zorec (UH) def. Clare Fermin (UCI), 6-4, 6-2

3. Brooke Bartlett (UCI) def. Anja-Vanessa Peter (UH), 6-2, 6-2

4. Courtney Byron (UCI) def. Melinda Wong (UH), 7-5, 6-3

5. Alyssa Nafarrete (UH) def. Rebecca Kwan (UCI), 7-6(4), 4-6, 1-0(7)

6. Heidi Kaloi (UCI) def. Aglae Van den Bergh (UH), 6-3, 2-6, 6-1

 -UH-