SANTA CLARA, Calif.- The University of Hawai`i men's tennis team began its three-match Northern California road trip with a heartbreaking loss to the 73rd -ranked Santa Clara Broncos, 4-3, Wednesday at the Degheri Tennis Center.

This is the second consecutive year that the Rainbow Warriors (1-2) has lost to the Broncos (5-4) on the road. Santa Clara defeated UH, 4-3, in the 2006 season. UH is also ranked No. 73 in the latest FILA Collegiate Tennis Rankings.

The Broncos earned the doubles point by winning all three matches. The duo of sophomore Sascha Heinemann and freshman Andreas Weber lost an 8-4 decision to the Bronco's Kevin McQuaid and Blane Shields, 8-4, at the No. 1 position.

In singles play, the Rainbow Warriors (1-2) won three of the six matches. Heinemann fought back to defeat Jan Macek in three-sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, at the No. 1 court. Heinemann improved to 11-4 overall and 4-1 in dual matches. At No. 2, Weber outlasted Brian Brogan in the third-set super-tiebreaker, 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 (10-6). Weber, ranked No. 37 in the FILA Collegiate Singles Rankings, is also 11-4 overall and is 4-0 in dual matches.

Senior Chad Faulk beat Robert Gallman in three-sets, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, at the No. 4 position. Sophomore Jeff Fitch lost a tough 6-1, 2-6, 7-5 decision to Bobby Rasmussen at the No. 5 court. Fitch was serving at 5-4 and 40-0 with three match points in the third-set. Rasmussen fought back and saved all three match points before evening the match at 5-5 and eventually taking the third-set.

The Rainbow Warriors continue its three-match Northern California road trip on Thursday against the San Francisco Dons before facing No. 62 Saint Mary's on Friday, February 16.

No. 73 Santa Clara def. No. 73 Hawai'i, 4-3
Doubles (Santa Clara wins doubles point)
1. McQuaid/Shields (SCU) def. Heinemann/Weber, 8-4
2. Macek/Rasmussen (SCU) def. Faulk/Lajola, 8-3
3. Brogan/Gallman (SCU) def. Fitch/Hunter, 8-3

Singles (each match worth one team point)
1. Sascha Heinemann def. Jan Macek (SCU), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
2. Andreas Weber def. Brian Brogan (SCU), 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 (10-6)
3. Jay Wong (SCU) def. Derrick Lajola, 6-3, 6-3
4. Chad Faulk def. Robert Gallman (SCU), 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
5. Bobby Rasmussen (SCU) def. Jeff Fitch, 6-1, 2-6, 7-5
6. Blane Shields (SCU) def. Brent Hunter, 6-1, 6-3

-UH-