LA JOLLA, Calif.—In the collegiate athletic world, no matter what the sport, this is what you can call a trap match.

You know, one day after playing the match circled on your calendar, one day after a big win, you play another good team that you have already beaten this year.

Less than 24 hours after defeating previously unbeaten Azusa Pacific, the Hawai`i Hilo men's tennis team survived UC San Diego, 5-4 on the Northview Tennis Courts. To do so, the Vulcans had to overcome a 2-1 deficit after doubles, winning four of the six singles matches.

In February, the Vulcans defeated the Tritons in Kona, 7-2—perhaps considered an upset at the time. Since then, UH Hilo has yet to lose a match against a Division II opponent.

Today, the Tritons were bent on revenge and almost got it. The hosts won two ultra- close doubles matches to set the tone, with Eric Tseng and Justin Zhang edging Alex Fillat Perez and Bruno Figlia on court two, 8-7 (9-7), and Eskil Jarlskog and Neil Tengbumroong edging Gregory Zukeran and Chun En Wu in third doubles, 8-6.

Vaclav Slezak and Alessandro Giuliato won at first doubles (8-3), to make the team score 2-1. When singles began, the Tritons really put the pressure on when the first two matches completed were UCSD wins, on courts three and six to make it 4-1.

Arturo Dell'Eva got one team point back on court five with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Marius Ruh, and then Giuliato improved to 13-1 on the year with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Zhang on court two.

Fillat Perez then won a three-setter over Jarlskog 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 to tie the team count at 4-4, leaving a battle on court one between two nationally ranked players to determine the final score.

Tseng (No. 42) defeated Slezak (No. 20) back in February, but today Slezak avenged one of his two defeats on the season with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 win. It was Tseng's third loss on the season, like Slezak, all to nationally ranked players. Slezak improved to 12-2 on the year.

The Vulcans now have one match left on this road trip and the regular season, on Friday at Point Loma in San Diego.

#11 Hawai`i Hilo 5, UC San Diego 4
Wednesday, March 28, 2018, Northview Tennis Court, La Jolla, Calif.

Singles

1. #20 Vaclav Slezak (UHH) def. #42 Eric Tseng (UCSD), 6-4, 2-6, 6-1.
2. Alessandro Giuliato (UHH) def. Justin Zhang (UCSD), 6-2, 6-4.
3. Marc Isaia (UCSD) def. Chun En Wu (UHH), 6-3, 6-3.
4. Alex Fillat Perez (UHH) def. Eskil Jarlskog (UCSD), 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
5. Arturo Dell'eva (UHH) def. Marius Ruh (UCSD), 6-3, 6-3.
6. Neil Tengbumroong (UCSD) def. Gregory Zukeran (UHH), 6-2, 6-2.

Doubles

1. #38 Slezak\Giuliato (UHH) def. Isaia/Sreeganesh Manoharan (UCSD), 8-3.
2. Tseng/Zhang (UCSD) def. Fillat Perez\Bruno Figlia (UHH), 8-7 (9-7).
3. Jarlskog/Tengbumroong (UCSD) def. Zukeran\Wu (UHH), 8-6.

 
Season Records: UH Hilo 13-1, UC San Diego 8-4