HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i men's tennis team opens the Kusnierz Era as head Joël Kusnierz enters his first year at the helm of the Rainbow Warriors tennis program. Hawai'i opens the 2020 season with a pair of dual matches against Duke, who finished the 2019 season ranked at No. 23 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's poll. UH will take on the Blue Devils on Tuesday, Jan. 7 and Wednesday, Jan. 8. Both matches will start at 10:00 a.m. at the UH Tennis Complex.
 
All four Rainbow Warriors who earned all-Big West honors last season, return to lead Hawai'i in 2020. Leading the way is reigning Big West Freshman of the Year, Andre Ilagan, who finished last season with a team-best 12-8 overall record. Ilagan, went 10-7 on the No. 1 court and 2-0 playing No. 2.  Juniors Lucas Labrunie, Blaz Seric and sophomore Simao Telo Alves will be looked upon to help drive the Rainbow Warriors this season against a tough slate of competition which includes five teams who finished ranked in 2019.
 
The Blue Devils finished the 2019 season ranked at No. 53.  Duke is led by Andrew Zhang who finished the fall ranked No. 117 in the ITA rankings. In doubles, the Blue Devils have two pairs who finished the fall in the ITA rankings. Sam Sculley and Nick Stachowiak at No. 11 and Michael Heller and Zhang coming in at No. 42.
 
Head coach Kusnierz, took over the UH men's tennis program after serving the past three seasons as the assistant coach to retired head coach John Nelson who held the position for the past 16 years.
 
Dual Match #1
Teams: Duke vs. Hawai'i
Date: Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Site: UH Tennis Complex – Honolulu, HI

Dual Match #2
Teams: Duke vs. Hawai'i
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Site: UH Tennis Complex – Honolulu, HI