WAIKOLOA, Hawai'i- The University of Hawai`i men's tennis team fell short to Big-10 powerhouse and No. 22 Michigan, 4-3, Thursday at the Hilton Waikoloa Resort. The 75th-ranked Rainbow Warriors dropped to 2-5 on the season while the Wolverines improved to 8-2.

The Rainbow Warriors dropped all three doubles matches to lose the doubles point. The duo of sophomore Sascha Heinemann and freshman Andreas Weber lost a heartbreaking 8-6 decision to the nationally ranked team of Brian Hung and Matko Maravic at the No. 1 position. Hung and Maravic are ranked No. 3 in the latest FILA Collegiate Doubles Rankings. At No. 2, seniors Derrick Lajola and Brent Hunter dropped a competitive 8-6 match to George Navas and Mike Sroczynski.

In singles play, UH won three of the six matches. At the No. 1 court, Weber, winner of seven straight singles matches, earned a hard fought victory over Hung in the third-set super tiebreaker, 6-4, 5-7, 1-0(6). Hung, ranked No. 64 in the FILA Collegiate Singles Rankings, has a 13-8 singles record and beat six ranked players this season, including wins over No. 11 Stephen Bass and No. 27 Sheeva Parbhu of Notre Dame. Weber, ranked No. 86, is 15-4 overall and improved his undefeated dual match singles mark to 8-0. The Huenfeld, Germany native has won nine of his last ten singles matches. Weber also improved his three-set match record to 8-2.

Heinemann fought back to defeat Maravic in the third-set super tiebreaker, 3-6, 6-3, 1-0(5). Maravic, ranked No. 34, has a 16-7 singles mark and beat three ranked players this season, including a win over No. 24 Ken Skupski of LSU. Heinemann, ranked No. 75, improved his singles record to 15-4 overall, 8-1 in dual matches. The Eschwege, Germany native has won six straight dual singles matches and seven of his last eight. Heinemann improved his three-set match record to 6-1.

In a thrilling match at the No. 5 court, UH sophomore Jeff Fitch outlasted Navas in the third-set super tiebreaker, 6-4, 6-7(2), 1-0(13).

The Rainbow Warriors will begin a six-match homestand, starting March 13, against Cleveland State. First serve is set for 4:00 p.m. at the UH Tennis Complex.

No. 22 Michigan def. No. 75 Hawai'i, 4-3
Doubles (Michigan wins doubles point)
1. Hung/Maravic (UM) def. Weber/Heinemann, 8-6
2. Navas/Mike Sroczynski (UM) def. Lajola/Hunter, 8-6
3. Aarts/Bruckmann (UM) def. Fitch/Faulk, 8-4

Singles (each match worth one team point)
1. Andreas Weber def. Brian Hung (UM), 6-4, 5-7, 1-0(6)
2. Sascha Heinemann def. Matko Maravic (UM), 3-6, 6-3, 1-0(5)
3. Ryan Heller (UM) def. Derrick Lajola, 6-4, 6-1
4. Andrew Mazlin (UM) def. Chad Faulk, 6-4, 6-2
5. Jeff Fitch def. George Navas (UM), 6-4, 6-7(2), 1-0(13)
6. Peter Aarts (UM) def. Brent Hunter, 6-3, 6-3

-UH-