KAILUA KONA, Hawai`i--Hawai`i Hilo pushed perennial national title contender BYU-Hawaii to the near limit, but came up just a little short during a 6-3 loss in the season opener for both teams.
Junior transfer
Bruno Figlia picked up two wins on the day at the Holua Tennis Center in his Vulcan debut. He won a marathon bout at No. 4 singles over Simon Guillin, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 10-2, and also prevailed with partner
Dillon Lam on court three in doubles, 8-3.
Sophomore transfer
Vaclav Slezak won in easy straight sets at No. 1 singles over Sterling Galli, 6-1, 6-2.
Ryuta Ogawa lost a third pro set in a tight match at No. 5 against Chia-Hua Lu, 7-6, 4-6, 10-5.
UHH will return to action on Friday at the Holua Tennis Center, playing Sonoma State. Today's action was the first of five matches in six days in Kailua Kona for the Vulcans to kick-off the 2017 season.
BYU-Hawaii 6, UH Hilo 3
Singles
- Vaclav Slezak (UHH) def. Sterling Galli, 6-1, 6-2.
- Guillermo Ucelay Pueyo (BYUH) def. Gregory Zukeran (UHH), 6-2, 6-1.
- Ibrahim Karmadzha (BYUH) deff. Stefan Coney (UHH), 6-1, 6-2.
- Bruno Figlia (UHH) def. Simon Guillin (BYUH), 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 10-2.
- Chia-Hua Lu (BYUH) def. Ryuta Ogawa (UHH), 7-6, 4-6, 10-5.
- Tsu-Ping Kuang (BYUH) def. Daniel Tada (UHH), 6-4, 6-4.
Doubles
- Galli/Lu (BYUH) def. Zukeran/Slezak (UHH), 8-5.
- Guillen/Ucelay Pueyo (BYUH) def. Coney/Tada (UHH), 8-2.
- Figlia/Lam (UHH) def. Karmadzha/Ian Galli (BYUH), 8-3
