MALIBU, Calif. - The University of Hawai'i men's tennis player Sascha Heinemann advanced at the Wilson/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Western Regional Championships, Friday, at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center.

The junior, seeded No. 8 in the tournament, defeated Nick Meister of No. 8 UCLA, 6-3, 7-6 in the third round. The Eschwege, Germany native, ranked No. 50 in the ITA preseason singles rankings, will next compete against Dean Jackson of San Diego in the round of 16.

UH's remaining participants were eliminated on Friday. Junior Jeff Fitch jumped off to a great start by winning the first set, 6-0, against UCLA's Harel Srugo, the No. 2 seed in the tournament and the 16th-ranked singles player in the nation. Fitch then lost the next two sets, 6-1, 6-2 to fall in the third round of the main singles draw.

Rainbow Warrior sophomore Spence Mendoza lost a tight match to Nils Schive of San Diego in the consolation singles draw, 7-6, 6-4 and freshman Craig Faulk fell to Stephen Stege of UC Irvine, 6-2, 6-1 in the consolation singles draw.

The six-day individual singles and doubles tournament includes players from 14 West Region teams. The tournament continues throughout the week.

Wilson/ITA West Region Championships
Singles Round of 32
No. 50 Sascha Heinemann (UH) def. Nick Meister (UCLA), 6-3, 7-6
Harel Srugo (UCLA) def. Jeff Fitch (UH), 0-6, 6-1, 6-2

Consolation Singles 2nd Round
Stephen Stege (UCI) def. Craig Faulk (UH), 6-2, 6-1

Consolation Singles 3rd Round
Nils Schive (USD) def. Spence Mendoza (UH), 7-6, 6-4

-UH-