FRESNO, Calif. – The No. 63 University of Hawai'i men's tennis team opened Western Athletic Conference play on the road at No. 40 Fresno State. UH dropped a close 4-3 match to the Bulldogs, Friday afternoon at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center. The Warriors fall to 3-7 on the season.
In doubles play, the Bulldogs swept all three matches to win the point. The duo of senior Jeff Fitch and freshman Leo Rosenberg lost a close 8-5 decision to the No. 37 team of Mirko Zapletal and Rudolph Siwy at the No. 1 court.
Fresno State split the six singles matches with the Warriors and it was enough to clinch the victory for the Bulldogs. The clinching match took place at the No. 1 court. Sophomore and No. 93 Dennis Lajola lost a super tight 7-6(3), 6-4 decision to No, 64 Siwy. The Warriors three victories came at the No. 3, 4, and 6 courts. Junior Andrews Weber beat Rikus de Villiers, 6-2, 6-4 at the No. 3 position. Senior Sascha Heinemann squeaked past Remi Boutillier, 6-4, 7-5 at the No. 4 court and freshman Philipp Eberhard outlasted Taylor Leiby at the No. 6 position, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(1).
The Warriors will continue Western Athletic Conference play with two matches on Saturday, April 4. UH will face Idaho at 9:30 a.m. and Utah State at 3:30 p.m. Both matches will be played at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center.
No. 40 Fresno State def. No. 63 Hawai'I, 4-3
Doubles (Fresno State wins the doubles point)
1. No. 37 Zapletal/Siwy (FS) def. Fitch/Rosenberg (UH) 8-5
2. Boutillier/de Villiers (FS) def. Lajola/Weber (UH) 8-3
3. Veerepalli/Leiby (FS) def. Heinemann/Mendoza (UH) 8-4
Order of Completion: 2, 3, 1
Singles
1. No. 64 Rudolf Siwy (FS) def. No. 93
Dennis Lajola (UH) 7-6 (7-3) 6-4
2. Mirko Zapletal (FS) def.
Leo Rosenberg (UH) 6-2, 6-1
3.
Andreas Weber (UH) def. Rikus de Villiers (FS) 6-2, 6-4
4.
Sascha Heinemann (UH) def. Remi Boutillier (FS) 6-4, 7-5
5. Tejesvi Veerepalli (FS) def.
Jeff Fitch (HAW) 6-1, 6-2
6. Phillipp Eberhard (UH) def. Taylor Leiby (FS) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1)
Order of Completion: 2, 5, 3, 4, 1*, 6
-UH-
