You could argue that two upsets are a fluke, but three?
That sounds more like a trend.
Of course, one could argue UH-Hilo’s men’s tennis victories shouldn’t be qualified as “upsets” anymore.
The Vulcans closed out an ultra-successful opening stint Monday at Holua Tennis Center in Kailua-Kona by defeating No. 8 Hawaii Pacific, 6-3, for the second time in three days.
“That makes for a pretty good weekend,” Vulcans coach Tina McDermott said. “This group has really worked hard all fall and winter. We have a long road ahead, but I knew that they were capable of this. This will hopefully motivate them, knowing that this hard work pays off.”
The Vulcans won two of three doubles matches and four of six singles bouts against the Sharks, an NCAA quarterfinalist in 2017. Three of the singles matches went three sets, and UH Hilo’s lone loss in doubles went to a tiebreaker.
At No. 1 singles, Vaclav Slezak beat Benjamin Loccisano in a clash of nationally ranked players for the second time, 6-4, 6-1.
Freshman Chun En Wu and junior Gregory Zukeran wrapped up undefeated weekends with wins in singles and doubles. Wu won at No. 3 singles over Jack Lyttle, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, while Zukeran topped Adrian Elduque at No. 6 6-2, 7-5. That duo then teamed to win on the third doubles court, 8-2. Both were 6-0 on the weekend (3-0 singles, 3-0 doubles).
In the women’s match, the Vuls lost 7-2, falling to 2-2.
Men
UHH 6, HPU 3
Singles
#17 Vaclav Slezak (UHH) def. #27 Benjamin Loccisano (HPU), 6-4, 6-1.
Maxime Gayte (HPU) def. Alessandro Giuliato (UHH), 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.
Chun En Wu (UHH) def. Jack Lyttle (HPU), 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
#46 Gerado Irrarrazabal (HPU) def. Alex Fillat Perez (UHH), 6-2, 6-3.
Arturo Dell`eva (UHH) def. Juan Erro (HPU), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Gregory Zukeran (UHH) def. Adrian Elduque (HPU), 6-2, 7-5.
Doubles
SlezakGiuliato (UHH) def. GayteLyttle (HPU), 8-1.
ErroLoccisano (HPU) def. Fillat PerezBruno Figlia (UHH), 8-7 (7-5).
ZukeranWu (UHH) def. IrrarrazabalElduque (HPU), 8-2.
Women
HPU 7, UHH 2
#9 Lena Lutzeier (HPU) def. #38 Daniela Sanz (UHH), 6-1, 6-3.
#10 Lara Meccico (HPU) def. Devanshi Bhimjivani (UHH), 6-1, 3-6, 10-7.
#21 Oceane Adam (HPU) def. Marina Colvee (UHH), 6-2, 6-1.
Sara Marin (UHH) def. Barbora Kijasovva (HPU), 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 10-6.
Carmelle Joyner (UHH) def. Heloise Le Normand (HPU), 6-4, 6-2.
Debora Echeverria (HPU) def. Irena Le (UHH), 6-1, 6-0.
Doubles
LutzeierAdam (HPU) def. SanzBhimjivani (UHH), 8-2.
MeccicoKijasova (HPU) def. ColveeJoyner (UHH), 8-5..
Le NormandLeticia Gonzalez Dos Santos (HPU) def. LeMarin (UHH), 8-6.
