Senior Alex Anselme and freshman Anders Dalskov put up a fight, but the UCSB men’s tennis team dropped its second straight match Wednesday, falling to San Diego State 5-2. The win increases the Aztecs’ winning streak to three games.

Both Anselme and Dalskov, who played together at #2 doubles, had a hand in each match as the Gauchos won and dominated the Aztec (7-5) pairing of seniors Dontia Haynes and Daniel Jung, winning 8-1. But the other two doubles pairs let the Gauchos (4-10) down, as San Diego State was victorious 8-6 at #1 and 8-4 at #3, the third straight match the Aztecs won the doubles point.

“[Sophomore] Elad [Stern] and I have been playing well, and we felt like we played well in this match,” senior Leo Basica said, playing at #3 doubles. “We had sketchy serving, but we definitely could have won.”

Anselme struggled at #1 singles, losing the first set 2-6. But the senior battled back to win a close second set 7-5, and then took the tiebreaker 10-8.

Anselme’s victory came against junior Benedikt Stronk, last week’s Mountain West Conference Player of the Week.

The win at #2 singles for sophomore Markus Dickhardt improves his record, since switching to #2, to 4-1.

Dalskov had a much easier road, winning in two sets 6-4, 6-3. None of the other four Gauchos were able to muster a victory in a single set, including Basica, who fell 6-3, 6-2.

“I feel that I’m at the point where if I play my game I will win,” Basica said. “My opponent had a huge forehand, and I played defensive early. His aggressiveness really took me out of my game.”

Despite playing poorly against an extremely difficult nonconference schedule, UCSB remains optimistic.

“We made goals at the beginning of the year, the first of which was to win the Big West,” Basica said. “That goal is still in reach.”

Today UCSB faces #23 Harvard at home at the Rec Cen courts before Saturday’s crucial Big West match when the Gauchos host Irvine. Free pizza and drinks will be offered at Saturday’s match.

Recent matches would indicate the Gauchos have a better chance of knocking off Harvard, as San Diego State defeated Harvard 5-2 last week.

“We are no longer nationally ranked, but we still have our opportunities to get back there,” Basica said. “Our team’s morale remains high, and we haven’t lost in Big West.”