Sports

UCI: The women’s tennis team defeated Nevada 4-3 on Sat. and lost 4-3 Wyoming on Feb. 13.

After five straight conference losses threatened to torpedo the entire season for UCI, it was great to see some inspired play against a strong UC Santa Barbara team. The 66-63 win without star forward Eric Wise showed what this year’s Anteaters are all about — playing hard, playing small and above all, playing gritty.

VICTORY: With the Feb. 12 win against UCSB, the Anteaters halted a five-game losing streak.

BOSTON: Senior Tanya Taylor is the first UCI women’s soccer player to be professionally drafted.

OUTLOOK: The Anteaters will likely struggle in comparison to the past’s untested pitching staff.

HITTERS: Head Coach Mike Gillespie has released his team’s tentative lineup for the 2011 season.

PITCHERS: The Anteaters will call upon three untested right handers for their starting rotation.

Compiled by Emmanuel Martinez.

STRUGGLE: After beating the CSUF Titans, the Anteaters were shocked by the last place Matadors.

Ah, Super Bowl Sunday. It came and went on Feb. 6 and won’t return for another 12 months. On only one day of the year can 30 teams and their fanatics sit at home with chips, salsa, guacamole, adult beverages, friends and family and pretend that they’re not totally, super pissed off that their team didn’t make it to the big game. Over the years, I’ve learned one thing from the Super Bowl: its exclusive nature of only allowing two teams to compete somehow, ironically, results in the most inclusive television program in America.

HAIR: UCI’s Mike Wilder has been a fan favorite thanks to the growth of his shooting, rebounding and afro.

A capacity crowd for a basketball game at the Bren Events Center is 4,984. During many athletic events, the Bren is nothing but a sea of empty blue seats with a few spectators sprinkled here and there. On special nights, the Bren can feature a boisterous crowd of one to 2,000. However, when a blue moon casts its shadow over UC Irvine, 4,000 or more bodies will cram into the Bren Events Center to watch a basketball game.