LAS VEGAS, Nev.—The University of Hawai'i men's tennis team won both its matches to open the Las Vegas Invitational on Friday, Jan. 31 at the Fertitta Tennis Complex. The Rainbow Warriors recorded a pair of sweeps to give Joel Kusnierz his first two win in his head coaching career. Hawai'i first blanked UC Riverside in a non-conference match then came back in the afternoon to sweep New Mexico State at the Fertitta Tennis Complex in Las Vegas, Nev.
Hawai'i 4, UC Riverside 0
Box Score (PDF)
In UH's first match, the 'Bows were able to capture the doubles point for the early 1-0 lead. Hawai'i's No. 3 duo of
Chia-Hua Lu and Simao Telo Alves knocked off UCR's Jayson Blando and Michael Blando, 6-2. The Highlanders then evened things up on the No. 2 court as UH's
Blaz Seric and
Axel Labrunie were edged out by Gilbert Chung and Nabil Abdallah, 7-5. But the 'Bows' No. 1 team of
Andre Ilagan and
Lucas Labrunie then held off Daniel Velek and Andreas Whelan-Merediz in the hard-fought win which ended in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (4).
In singles, Hawai'i put the pedal to the metal and won the first three matches finished to notch their first sweep of the season.
Tristan Martins starting things off with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Nikita Horunzhy on the No. 6 court.
Axel Labrunie then hung on to defeat Jayson Blando at No. 4, 7-6 (5), 6-4. UH's No. 1 Ilagan then clinched the match dispatching UCR's Chung in a tight, two set battle, 6-4, 7-6 (3)
Hawai'i 4, New Mexico State 0
Box Score (PDF)
Hawai'i's No. 1 and No. 3 doubles teams again propelled the 'Bows to take the doubles point to start the renewed rivalry with the Aggies. This time it was UH's No. 1 Ilagan/
Lucas Labrunie who led off by tossing a shutout against Louis Menard and Jordy Visser, 6-0. On the No. 3 court, Lu and Alves cruised to a 6-2 win over Nicolas Buitrago and Luis Flores, 6-2 to take the early 1-0 lead.
In singles, UH's No. 3 Seric came through with a straight set win over Martin Simecek, 6-2, 6-3. Both Martins and Axel Labruinie then recorded their second wins of the day. No. 6 Martins doubled up on Sahil Curnier in the first set then held him off in a second set tiebreaker. 6-3, 7-6 (5).
Axel Labrunie then clinched UH's second win of the day with a 7-5. 6-2 win over Flores.
The Rainbow Warriors will conclude the Las Vegas Invitational on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. when they take on host, UNLV.
