HONOLULU - The No. 55 University of Hawai`i men's tennis team played its first regular-season dual match of the season, falling to No. 25 California, 6-1, Thursday at the UH Tennis Complex.
The Bears won five of six singles matches to secure the victory. The Warriors lone win came at the No. 1 court where sophomore
Dennis Lajola took down No. 49 Kallim Stewart in straight sets, 7-5, 7-5. Lajola, ranked No. 56 in the latest ITA rankings, improved to 7-3 on the season.
UH had a shot at two other courts, but lost a pair of grueling three-set matches at the No. 4 and 5 positions.
Andreas Weber fell to Jonatha Dahan, 7-6, 3-6, 1-0 (5) in a super tie-breaker, while
Jeff Fitch was defeated by Bozhidar Katsarov, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.
Cal also captured the doubles point by winning two of three matches. UH's
Sascha Heinemann and
Spence Mendoza defeated Zack Gilbert and Thai Tu, 8-4. Fitch and
Leo Rosenberg were on their way to an upset of the No. 14 doubles team in the nation, but Pedro Zerbini and Geoff Chizever eventually outlasted them, 8-6, to clinch the doubles point for the Bears.
The Warriors are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 17 when they host San Diego State. First serve is set for 10:00 a.m. at the UH Tennis Complex.
No. 25 California def. No. 55 Hawai'i, 6-1
Doubles (California wins doubles point)
1. No. 14 Zerbini/ Chizever def. Fitch/Rosenberg (UH), 8-6
2. Andrews/Stewart (Cal) def. Lajola/Weber (UH), 8-2
3. Heinemann /Mendoza (UH) def. Gilbert/Tu (Cal), 8-4
Singles
1. No. 56
Dennis Lajola (UH) def. No. 49 Kallim Stewart (Cal), 7-5, 7-5
4. Jonathan Dahan (Cal) def.
Andreas Weber (UH), 7-6, 3-6, 1-0 (5)
5. Bozhidar Katsarov (Cal) def.
Jeff Fitch (UH), 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
-UH-
