MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The No. 75 University of Hawai`i men's tennis team got back on the winning track with a 4-1 win over No. 56 Middle Tennessee on the second day of the Blue Gray Tennis Classic Friday at the Lagoon Park Tennis Center. The Warriors improved to 3-5 with its second win over a ranked opponent this year.

 

The Warriors, who defeated nationally ranked San Diego State earlier this year, rebounded from an opening round loss to No. 29 Wisconsin on Thursday, with a win over the 56^th-ranked Blue Raiders. Hawai`i won two of three doubles matches, then clinched the win in singles play by taking three of four completed matches. Middle Tennessee fell to 7-9 with its second straight loss in the tournament to a ranked squad.

 

The Warriors won the doubles point with a pair of victories on the No. 2 and No. 3 courts. The duo of Jeff Fitch and Leo Rosenberg won for the second straight day by dismantling Alex McCann and Morgan Richard, 8-0, on the No. 2 court. Sascha Heinemann and Craig Faulk clinched the UH doubles point with an 8-6 win over Victor Melo and Matthew Langley at the No. 3 court.

 

UH secured the match victory in singles action with a trio of wins by Rosenberg, Heinemann and Fitch at the No. 3, 4 and 5 positions, respectively. Heinemann swept Richard, 6-3, 6-4, while both Rosenberg and Fitch were extended to three sets before pulling out  wins. UH's lone loss came at No. 1, where Dennis Lajola fell to No. 124 Robert McKenzie 6-4, 6-4. With the match decided, both Andreas Weber and Philipp Eberhard, did not finish their singles matches. Weber was leading No. 104 John Peers at the No. 2 court, 3-2, in the third set, while Eberhard had split the first two sets with Kyle Wishing at No. 6.

 

The Warriors will conclude their first-ever appearance in the Blue Gray Classic with a consolation bracket meeting against No. 41 Oklahoma on Saturday, March 21. First serve is set for 11:00 a.m. CT (7:00 a.m. HT) at the Lagoon Park Tennis Center.

 

1. No. 51 John Peers/Robert McKenzie (MT) def. Dennis Lajola/Andreas Weber (UH) 8-5

2. Jeff Fitch/Leo Rosenberg (UH) def.  Alex McCann/Morgan Richard (MT), 8-0

3. Sascha Heinemann/Craig Faulk (UH) def. Victor Melo/Matthew Langley (MT) 8-6

1. No. 124 Robert McKenzie (MT) def. No. 75 Dennis Lajola (UH) 6-4, 6-4

2. Andreas Weber (UH) vs. No.104 John Peers (MT) 7-6, 4-6, 3-2, did not finish

3. No. 84 Leo Rosenberg (UH) def. Victor Melo (MT) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2

4. Sascha Heinemann (UH) def. Morgan Richard (MT) 6-3, 6-4

5. Jeff Fitch (UH) def. Alex McCann (MT) 6-3, 5-7, 6-0

6. Philipp Eberhard (UH) vs. Kyle Wishing  (MT) 7-6, 5-7, did not finish