BOISE, Idaho - The University of Hawai`i men's tennis team advanced to the Western Athletic Conference Tennis Championship semifinals for the second straight year with a 4-0 quarterfinal win over Utah State Friday at the Boise Racquet and Swim Club. The Rainbow Warriors, seeded sixth, improved to 8-10, while the third-seeded Aggies dropped to 8-9.
UH will now face No. 2 Fresno State, a 4-0 winner over Idaho, in Saturday's semifinals. First serve is at 9:00 a.m. MDT at the Appleton Tennis Center as the Rainbow Warriors look to avenge last year's 4-0 semifinal loss to the Bulldogs.
Hawai`i may have been the lower seed, but thoroughly dominated the Aggies. UH won the doubles point with two convincing wins. Andreas Weber and Sascha Heinemann defeated Oscar Ericsson and Jonas Tyden, 8-2, while Spence Mendoza and Derrick Lajola easily handled Hannes Schenk and Dantley Young, 8-3.
UH followed the doubles competition with three straight wins in singles, all in straight-set fashion, to clinch the victory. Jeff Fitch defeated Dantley Young, 6-3, 6-0 at the No. 6 court, followed by wins by Heinemann and Weber at the No. 2 and 1 courts, respectively. Heinemann moved to 13-3 in dual matches with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Schenk, while Weber improved to 15-2 in dual matches with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Ericsson.
Hawai`i def. Utah State, 4-0
Doubles (UH wins doubles point)
1. Andreas Weber/Sascha Heinemann (UH) def. Oscar Ericsson/Jonas Tyden (USU), 8-2
2. Spence Mendoza/Derrick Lajola (UH) def. Hannes Schenk/Dantley Young, (USU) 8-3
3. Mike Banks/Nate Ballam (USU) vs. Chad Faulk/Jeff Fitch (UH) 6-5, unfinished
Singles (each match worth one team point)
1. #54 Andreas Weber (UH) def. Oscar Ericsson (USU) 6-4, 6-1
2. #80 Sascha Heinemann (UH) def. Hannes Schenk (USU) 6-0, 6-3
3. Jonas Tyden (USU) vs. Chad Faulk (UH) 2-6, 6-4, 2-1, unfinished
4. Spence Mendoza (UH) vs. Fernando Gallegos (USU) 4-6, 4-1, unfinished
5. Mike Banks (USU) vs. Derrick Lajola (UH) 6-4, 5-4, unfinished
6. Jeff Fitch (UH) def. Dantley Young (USU) 6-3, 6-0
Match Notes:
Hawai`i 8-10
Utah State 8-9
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (6,2,1)
2007 Western Athletic Conference Tournament Quarterfinals
Match played at the Boise Racquet and Swim Club
T-2:20
-UH-
