The Hawkeyes came back with wins at sixth singles against Solomon and first singles against Beltrame. Harvard fought on though, as Thirouin took a straight-set victory at fourth singles, his seventh singles victory of the season, to knot the match at 2-2.

“We are playing gritty, blue collar, pack your lunch tennis - nothing flashy, nothing extra,” Solomon said. “We are ready to shake things up.”

After Tao fell, 6-2, 6-4, at second singles, it came down to Zhou’s match at fifth singles. Zhou was unable to best Iowa sophomore Jonas Larsen, however, and the Hawkeyes clinched the 4-2 win.

HARVARD 4, UC IRVINE 3

The Crimson took a quick lead against the Anteaters (6-10) in its spring break opener with a doubles sweep. No. 40 doubles duo Tao and Yeung edged out their opponents at first singles, Beltrame and Thirouin won, 6-4, at second doubles, and Morrow and Weber managed to close out the sweep with a tiebreaker win at third doubles.

Harvard and UC Irvine split the singles matches, all in straight sets, and the doubles advantage gave the Crimson the win. Thirouin, Zhou, and Solomon at third, fourth, and fifth singles, respectively, earned crucial points for Harvard.

The team will return to the courts next weekend with three matches at home, in preparation for the Ivy season.

“Our dog might not be growling right now, but it bites. And it's chompers are ready for the Ivy Season,” Solomon said.

—Staff writer Jamie Chen can be reached at jamie.chen@thecrimson.com.