SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif – The University of Hawai'i men's tennis team dropped its first match of the season with a 5-2 loss to  Cal Poly in a Big West matchup at the Mustang Tennis Complex. The Rainbow Warriors fell to 2-1 after playing their opening road match of the year.
 
The Rainbow Warriors  started off strong by taking the doubles point with wins on the No. 1 and No. 2 courts. UH's Blaz Seric and Axel Labrunie led the way, quickly defeating Cal Poly's  Antione Noel and Andrew Whitehouse, 6-1. The No. 1 duo of Andre Ilagan and Lucas Labrunie clinched the point by defeating Roman Shenkiryk and Joe Leather, 6-2.
 
However, singles proved tough for the Warriors who managed to net one of the available six points, while losing a pair of tight three-set matches that proved pivotal. The Mustangs (8-7) won in straight sets on courts 2, 3, and 5 to take a 3-1 lead. Axel Labrunie, however, got UH within 3-2 following a 7-6, 6-2 win over Joe Leather.   
 
Cal Poly secured the win though by pulling out a pair of three-set wins, including the clinching point on court 6 where Gary Vardanyan (CP) defeated Tristan Martins (UH) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. At the top flight, Andre Ilagan battled hard before succumbing to Alex Stater, 3-6, 7-6 (10-3), 6-3, to round out the match.
 
The Rainbow Warriors will next head down the California coast to meet up with UC Santa Barbara on Sunday, March 28 in Santa Barbara, Calif.
 
Cal Poly 5, Hawaii 2
Mar 26, 2021
San Luis Obispo, Calif. (Mustang Tennis Complex)
 
Doubles
1. Ilagan/L. Labrunie (UH) def. Roman Shenkiryk/Joe Leather (CP) 6-2
2. Seric/A. Labrunie (UH) def. Antoine Noel/Andrew Whitehouse (CP) 6-1
3. Stater/Vardanyan (CP) vs. Martins/Simão Telo Alves (UH) 3-4, unfinished
Order of finish: 2, 1
 
Singles
1. Stater (CP) def. Ilagan (UH) 3-6, 7-6 (10-3), 6-3
2. Noah Berry (CPM) def. Seric (UH) 6-2, 7-5
3. Noel (CP) def. L. Labrunie (UH) 6-4, 6-4
4. A. Labrunie (UH) def. Leather (CPM) 7-6, 6-2
5. Fernando Fonseca (CP) def. Alves (UH) 6-3, 6-0
6. Vardanyan (CP) def. Martins (UH) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Order of finish: 5, 2, 3, 4, 6*,1