The 2001-02 University of Hawai‘i Warrior tennis team debuted with a 5-2 loss to No. 42 Arizona, Tuesday afternoon, in front of a crowd of 100 at the UH Tennis Complex.

The Warriors captured both the No. 4 and 5 positions to the Wildcats, won by junior Francisco Brignole and newcomer Justin Menolascino.

Arizona opened the dual meet by sweeping all three doubles matches to take an early 1-0 lead. They added to their lead by taking the No. 6 and No. 3 spots in straight set defeats.

Hawai‘i’s No. 1 and No. 2 players, Reginaldo Moralejo and Malino Oda, were involved in hard fought matches as both took their opponent to a deciding third game. Moralejo won the first set, 7-5 over Tom Lloyd before succumbing 6-3, 6-3. Oda also took the first set in his match with Carl Hagman, ranked No. 95 in the pre-season Intercollegiate Tennis Association, 6-4. However Hagman fought back and won the match 6-4, 6-3.

With Arizona holding an deciding 5-0 advantage, Brignole and Menolascino won their exhausting two-hour long matches. Menolascino won in three, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 over Roeland Bratianu, while Brignole’s opponent defaulted in the third set. Arizona coach Bill Wright called the match after his player, Arnaud Agniel, showed excessive frustration throughout the third set.



Up Next The Warrior will take on No. 2 Stanford, Friday, Nov. 23 in their annual dual-meet at the Waikaloa Resort on the Big Island. Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams will face the nationally-ranked Cardinal.



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