KAILUA, Hawai'i –The No. 22 Hawai'i Hilo Men's Tennis team got spring competition started this past weekend on O'ahu against No. 10 HPU at the Kailua Racquet Club, falling in both matches by a score of 5-2.

In Saturday's match, the duo of Luca Matheiowetz and Cian McDonnell claimed victory in the doubles round, 6-2, on Court 3 but the Sharks managed to take the doubles point for the 1-0 lead. HPU quickly claimed the necessary points to take the match victory, getting wins on Courts 4-6.

Playing through to completion, Ryo Minakata and McDonnell earned wins on Courts 1 and 3, respectively, while Lamar Bartley battled tough in a hard-fought defeat on Court 2.

Sunday's competition saw a similar fate with Minakata and McDonnell getting singles victories for the Vulcans' two points of the match.

SINGLES WINS - SATURDAY, FEB. 17

1. [UHH] R. Minakata def. [HPU] J. Walder (6-2, 7-6)
3. [UHH] C. McDonnell def. [HPU] R. Ogasawara (7-5, 6-2)

SINGLES WINS - SATURDAY, FEB. 18

1. [UHH] R. Minakata def. [HPU] R. Sanz (7-5, 6-1)
3. [UHH] C. McDonnell def. [HPU] J. Beran (6-3, 3-6, 10-8)

DOUBLES WINS - SATURDAY, FEB. 17

3. [UHH] L. Matheiowetz + C. McDonnell def. [HPU] R. Ogasawara + L. Richter (6-2)

UP NEXT

No. 22 Hawai'i Hilo moved to 0-2 overall while No. 10 HPU moved to a 2-0 record.

The Vulcans will travel to Colorado in early March for four matches — two each against Metro State University Denver (March 8-9) and Colorado Mesa (March 10).

Hawai'i Hilo and HPU will match up again for two contests April 6-7 at the UHH Tennis Courts.

Pacific West Conference Championship is set for April 17-20 at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex in Arizona.

BEST IN THE NATION

The Hawai'i Hilo Men's Tennis team was voted in at No. 22 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association Collegiate Team Rankings sponsored by Tennis-Point. The Vulcans were initially voted No. 21 in the first preseason rankings released.

Ryo Minakata and Cian McDonnell both landed in the first Intercollegiate Tennis Association Collegiate Rankings sponsored by Tennis-Point released last November, coming in at No. 37 and No. 50, respectively. Both were also ranked No. 4 and No. 9 in the West Regional Ranks. As a duo, they came in at No. 5 on the West Regional Doubles leader board.