MOSCOW, Idaho – The No. 56 University of Hawai'i men's tennis team's quest for its second straight regular-season conference title began with a 5-2 loss to No. 44 Fresno State Friday afternoon on the campus of the University of Idaho.

 

In a match-up of last year's regular-season co-champions, the Bulldogs (9-8, 1-0 WAC) got the best of the Rainbow Warriors (4-9, 0-1 WAC) in the league opener for both teams. It was also the first meeting between the teams since last year's epic WAC Tournament title match in which the 'Bows defeated the host Bulldogs on their home court.

 

Fresno State exacted revenge for that loss, while gaining an early leg up on this year's regular season race by winning five of singles six matches. UH got off to a good start by taking the doubles point .The duo of Dennis Lajola and Jonathan Brooklyn cruised past Francis Alcantara and Jean-Charles Diame, 8-1, while Daniel Llarenas and Danilo Casanova secured the point with a tight 8-6 win over David Ayoun and Siddarth Alapati.

 

Unfortunately, things didn't go as well for the 'Bows in singles play. Jonathan Brooklyn snatched a 6-2, 7-6 win over Alcantara on the No. 4 court. However, that was the only win in singles as UH dropped the remaining five matches, including a close three-set loss by Lajola to Rikeus de Villiers on the feature court.

 

The Rainbow Warriors will look to rebound Saturday morning against Utah State. UH will conclude the weekend with a match versus host and No. 54 Idaho on Sunday.

 

 

1. de Villiers (FS) def. No. 122 Lajola (UH) 5-7, 6-4, 6-2

2. No. 115 Remi Boutillier (FS) def. Leo Rosenberg (UH) 6-3, 6-4

3. Jean-Charles Diame (FS) def. Jeremy Tweedt (UH) 6-4, 6-3

4. Brooklyn (UH) def. Alcantara (FS) 6-2, 7-6

5. Ayoun (FS) def. Dmytro Kovalyov (UH) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4

6. Nick Papac (FS) def. Jared Spiker (UH) 6-2, 6-2

 

1. No. 17 de Villiers/Boutillier (FS) def. Rosenberg/ Tweedt (UH) 8-1

2. Lajola/Brooklyn (UH) def. Alcantara/Diame (FS) 8-1

3. Llarenas/Casanova (UH) def. Ayoun/Alapati (FS) 8-6