DAVIS, Calif.—For the second straight season, the University of Hawai'i men's tennis team edged out UC Davis, 4-3 to open their Big West season. The Rainbow Warriors improved to 7-8 overall and 1-0 in the Big West. UC Davis fell to 10-7 overall and 0-1 in conference. It is the most dual match wins for the Warriors since the 2014 season when the 'Bows recorded an 8-12 overall record.
 
The Warriors earned the doubles point to take an early 1-0 lead. UH's No. 3 duo of Chia-Hua Lu and Asad Siyyid got things started, nearly blanking Alex Scemanenco and Dariush Jalali, 6-1. The Aggies then tied the score at 1-1 on the No. 1 court with David Goulak and Daniel Landa holding off Andre Ilagan and Lucas Labrunie by a break, 6-4. On the No. 2 court, UH's team of Blaz Seric and Simao Telo Alves outlasted Chethan Swanson and Nil Giraldez, 7-5 to win the doubles point for the 'Bows.
 
In singles, No. 1 Ilagan kept things rolling as he powered past Goulak for a 6-2, 6-1 victory. For Ilagan, that marked his 10^th dual match win of the season. Labrunie notched his ninth dual match win soon after with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Ivan Thamma. But, UC Davis then started rally, chipping away at UH's 3-0 lead to trail by just one at 3-2. UCD's NO. 5 Landa defeated Tristan Martins in straight-sets, 6-4, 6-4 and No. 6 Arjith Jayaraman defeated Chia-Hua Lu, 6-4, 6-2.
 
UH's No. 3 Seric then battled his way back after dropping a first set tiebreaker, to pull away and clinch the win for Hawai'i with a three-set victory over Giraldez, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-3. In the final match of the day, UCD's Swanson held off UH's Alves in a marathon two sets, 7-6 (7), 6-4.

Hawai'i returns home to host its final two matches of the season against  UC Irvine on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7 against UC Riverside. Both matches are slated to start at 12:00 p.m. at the UH Tennis Complex. Sunday will be Senior Day for Eric Kenneth and Asad Siyyid.

Hawaii 4, UC Davis 3
Apr 02, 2019 at Davis, Calif. (Marya Welch Tennis Center) 
 

Singles competition

1. Andre Ilagan (UH) def. David Goulak (UCD) 6-3, 6-1

2. Lucas Labrunie (UH) def. Ivan Thamma (UCD) 6-4, 6-2

3. Blaz Seric (UH) def. Nil Giraldez (UCD) 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 6-3

4. Chethan Swanson (UCD) def. Simao Telo Alves (UH) 7-6 (9-7), 6-4

5. Daniel Landa (UCD) def. Tristan Martins (UH) 6-4, 6-4

6. Arjith Jayaraman (UCD) def. Chia-Hua Lu (UH) 6-4, 6-2

 

Doubles competition

1. David Goulak/Daniel Landa (UCD) def. Andre Ilagan/Lucas Labrunie (UH) 6-4

2. Blaz Seric/Simao Telo Alves (UH) def. Chethan Swanson/Nil Giraldez (UCD) 7-5

3. Chia-Hua Lu/Asad Siyyid (UH) def. Alex Scermanenco/Dariush Jalali (UCD) 6-1

 

Match Notes

Hawaii 7-8, 1-0

UC Davis 10-7, 0-1

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,2,5,6,3,4)