KAILUA-KONA, Hawai`i—Well, that's a pretty good way to start the season.

The Hawai`i Hilo men's tennis team won five of six singles matches and two out of three doubles bouts to upset No. 15 ranked UC San Diego 7-2 on Friday afternoon at the Holua Tennis Center to jump start the 2018 season.

The Vulcans lost to the Tritons twice last year, including once here in Kona, both times by a 6-3 score.

A pair of freshmen were double winners, Allesandro Giuliato and Chun En Wu, as was junior veteran Gregory Zukeran. Giuliato (South Maurizio, Italy) won at No. 2 singles 6-4, 6-0 over No. 39 nationally ranked Justin Zhang, and also teamed with Vaclac Slezak to win at No. 1 doubles, 8-3.

Wu (Taipei, Taiwan) captured his singles match on court three over Marc Isaia, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, and he paired with Zukeran to win third doubles, 8-6. Zukeran won his singles match at No. six, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.

The profile singles match of the day was on center court, where No. 21 ranked Eric Tseng of UCSD topped No. 17 Slezak in a war, 7-6 (10-8), 4-6, 10-5. Slezak won both matches last year in a battle between the two standouts, but this time Tseng fought back from two set points in the first set to gain the early advantage and eventually the win.

Other singles winners for the Vulcans were Alex Fillat-Perez at No. 4 by the count of 6-3, 6-3, and sophomore transfer Arturo Dell`eva (Italy\St. Francis U) on court five, 7-2, 7-6 (7-3).

The Vulcans will take on another ranked team and an island rival in Hawai`i Pacific on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Holua Tennis Center. The Sharks come into the season ranked No. 8 nationally.

UH HILO 7, UC SAN DIEGO
Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, Holua Tennis Center, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Singles

1. #21 Eric Tseng (UCSD) def. #17 Vaclav Slezak (UHH), 7-6 (10-8), 4-6, 10-5.
2. Alessandro Giuliato (UHH) def. #39 Justin Zhang (UCSD), 6-4, 6-0.
3. Chun En Wu (UHH) def. Marc Isaia (UCSD), 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.
4. Alex Fillat Perez (UHH) def. Eskil Jarlskog (UCSD), 6-3, 6-3.
5. Arturo Dell`eva (UHH) def. Richard Han (UCSD), 6-2, 7-6 (7-3).
6. Gregory Zukeran (UHH) def. Marius Ruh (UCSD), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.

Doubles

1. Slezak\Giuliato (UHH) def. Isaia\Sreeganesh Manoharan (UCSD), 8-3.
2. Zhang\Tseng (UCSD) def. Fillat Perez\Bruno Figlia (UHH), 8-3.
3. Zukeran\Wu (UHH) def. Jarlskog\Neil Tengbumroong (UCSD), 8-6

Season Records: UH Hilo 1-0, UC San Diego 0-2.