KAILUA-KONA, Hawai`i—Hawai`i Hilo got the 2019 high-expectations season off on a positive note, defeating Holy Names 6-1 on Saturday morning at the Holua Tennis Center.

The No. 10 nationally ranked (No. 1 west region) Vulcans swept doubles play and won all but one singles match to get the season underway. Holy Names, listed No. 8 in the west region, fell to 0-2 on the year.

The Vulcans won five singles matches in straight sets, but the final tally on court one was separated by just a few points.

Two of the top players in the west region squared off, with UHH's Vaclav Slezak battling back from a break in each set to edge Holy Names' Hugo Colpart, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5). That match last about 20 minutes longer than the marathon on court five, where HNU's Valentin Baranyi picked up the lone Hawk win for the second day in a row, outlasting Hawai`i Hilo's Luca Checchia, 6-2, 2-6, 14-12. Checchia fought off five match points before finally falling to Baranyi.

On the other courts, UHH's Alessandro Giuliato, Martin Soukal, Chun En Wu and Arturo Dell`Eva all picked up quick victories.

In doubles play, No. 12 ranked Slezak and Giuliato rolled at 6-3, as did the freshman duo of Checchia and Alan Cincunegui on court three by the same score. In number two doubles, En Wu and Soukal came back from a break to win, 6-4.

The Vulcans will play match two of this three-match Kona stand on Sunday, hosting No. 4 regionally ranked UC San Diego at 2:30 p.m.
 
No. 10 Hawai`i Hilo 6, Holy Names 1
Saturday, February 16, 2019, Holua Tennis Center

Singles

1. #28 Vaclav Slezak (UHH) def. #37 Hugo Colpart (HNU), 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5).
2. #33 Alessandro Giuliato (UHH) def. Alex Vinee-Munoz (HNU), 6-1, 6-2.
3. Martin Soukal (UHH) def. John Giesberts (HNU), 6-1, 6-2.
4. Chun En Wu (UHH) def. Javier Luque (HNU), 6-3, 6-1.
5. Valentin Baranyi (HNU) def. Luca Checchia (UHH), 6-2, 2-6, 14-12.
6. Arturo Dell`Eva (UHH) def. Philip Achenbach (HNU), 6-0, 6-2.

Singles order of finish: 3-2-6-4-5-1

Doubles

1. #12 Slezak/Giuliato (UHH) def. Colpart/Vinee-Munoz (HNU), 6-3.
2. En Wu/Soukal (UHH) def. Giesberts/Giovanni Fragalle (HNU), 6-4.
3. Checchia/Alan Cincunegui (UHH) def. Luque/Achenbach (HNU), 6-3.

Doubles order of finish: 3-2-1
 
Season Records: No. 10 UH Hilo 1-0, Holy Names 0-2