HONOLULU - The University of Hawai'i men's tennis won their first match of the 2008 season, defeating UC Santa Barbara, 4-3, Sunday afternoon, at the UH Tennis Complex. The Rainbow Warriors improved to 1-3 on the 2008 season.

In doubles play, the Rainbow Warriors lost the doubles point by by losing all three matches. The team of UH junior Jeff Fitch and freshman Dennis Lajola dropped a tight 8-7 decision to UCSB's Jack Hui and Philip Therp at the No. 1 position.

In singles play, the Rainbow Warriors won four of the six matches to clinch victory. Sophomore Andreas Weber, ranked No. 25 in the latest ITA singles rankings, outplayed Therp in two sets, 6-1, 6-3, at the No. 1 court. Lajola outlasted Bijan Hejazi in a hard hitting, exciting match, 7-6, 6-4 at No. 2. At the No. 3 court, junior Sascha Heinemann frustrated his opponent and beat Hui in two sets, 6-1, 6-3.

With the match score tied at 3-3, sophomore Spence Mendoza was clutch and clinched the win for the Rainbow Warriors. Mendoza attacked and volleyed his way to victory against UCSB's Anders Dalskov in an exciting finish, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4, at the No. 4 position.

The Rainbow Warriors will make their first road trip of the spring season, competing in four dual matches in Northern California. UH will play Pac-10 powerhouse and No. 42 Stanford on Feb. 6, WAC foe and No. 69 Fresno State on Feb. 8, Oregon on Feb. 9, and Nevada on Feb. 11.

Match Results
Hawai'i def. UC Santa Barbara, 4-3
Doubles (UC Santa Barbara wins doubles point)
1. Hui/Therp (UCSB) def. Fitch/Lajola (UH), 8-7
2. Dalskov/Finkelstein (UCSB) def. Heinemann/ Weber, 8-5
3. Hejazi/Konigsfeldt (UCSB) def. Mendoza/Fitch (UH), 8-3

Singles (each match worth one team point)
1. No. 25 Andreas Weber (UH) def. Philip Therp (UCSB), 6-1, 6-3
2. Dennis Lajola (UH) def. Bijan Hejazi (UCSB), 7-6, 6-4
3. Sascha Heinemann (UH) def. Jack Hui (UCSB), 6-1, 6-3
4. Spence Mendoza (UH) def. Anders Dalskov (UCSB), 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
5. Alexander Konigsfeldt (UCSB) def. Jeff Fitch (UH), 6-2, 6-3
6. Josh Finkelstein (UCSB) def. Craig Faulk (UH), 6-4, 7-5

-UH-