There was a time not so long ago that UH-Hilo was just happy to be able to field a men’s tennis team.
At other times, recently, a handful of wins would have sufficed as a team goal, and a win against Hawaii Pacific was unheard of.
Oh how times have changed under third-year Vulcans’ coach Tina McDermott.
The Vulcans go for their third upset of a ranked team on the young season Monday at Holua Tennis Center in Kailua-Kona when the No. 7 Sharks will be looking for a little payback after getting bounced by UHH 7-2 on Saturday.
The Vulcans aren’t just winning, they are winning with flare. They also beat No. 15 UC San Diego on Friday in their opener 7-2, following a similar formula in both matches by taking two of three doubles matches and five of six singles contests.
“Our opening matches will definitely be a test,” McDermott said in a release before the season started. “But our men have been working extremely hard and I think it will show this weekend.
UHH’s ace, the No. 17-ranked Vaclav Slezak, beat No. 27 Benjamin Loccisano, 6-4, 7-5 on court one Saturday after losing a battle Friday against Eric Tseng, 7-6 (10-8), 4-6, 10-5.
Slezak has teamed with Alessandro Giuliato for two wins at No. 1 doubles, while Giuliato has a pair of straight-set wins at No. 2 singles.
“Our talent level is high again,” McDermott said. “The difference this year is that this group now knows what it takes to win at this level and they have the belief that they can.”
Also 2-0 for the Vuls so far are Chun En Wu (No.3 singles), Arturo Delleva (No. 5) Gregory Zukeran (No. 6) as well as Wu and Zukeran at No. 3 doubles.
Alex Fillat-Perez and Bruno Figlia are still trying to get on track at No. 2 doubles, while Fillat-Perez is 1-1 at No. 4 singles.
“This team has amazing potential, and most importantly they want to get to that (NCAA) level,” McDermott said. “This weekend will be a first step to see where we are at in that process.”
On Sunday at Holua, the UHH women beat Chaminade 9-0 for the second time this season. The Vuls are 2-1, with the loss coming to No. 9 UC San Diego on Friday.
At Holua Tennis Center
Men
Friday
UHH 7, UCSD 2
#21 Eric Tseng (UCSD) def. #17 Vaclav Slezak (UHH), 7-6 (10-8), 4-6, 10-5.
Alessandro Giuliato (UHH) def. #39 Justin Zhang (UCSD), 6-4, 6-0.
Chun En Wu (UHH) def. Marc Isaia (UCSD), 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.
Alex Fillat Perez (UHH) def. Eskil Jarlskog (UCSD), 6-3, 6-3.
Arturo Dell`eva (UHH) def. Richard Han (UCSD), 6-2, 7-6 (7-3).
Gregory Zukeran (UHH) def. Marius Ruh (UCSD), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
Doubles
SlezakGiuliato (UHH) def. IsaiaSreeganesh Manoharan (UCSD), 8-3.
ZhangTseng (UCSD) def. Fillat PerezBruno Figlia (UHH), 8-3.
ZukeranWu (UHH) def. JarlskogNeil Tengbumroong (UCSD), 8-6
Saturday
UHH 7, HPU 2
#17 Vaclav Slezak (UHH) def. #27 Benjamin Loccisano (HPU), 6-4, 7-5.
Alessandro Giuliato (UHH) def. Maxime Gayte (HPU), 6-4, 6-1.
Chun En Wu (UHH) def. #46 Gerado Irrarrazabal (HPU), 6-4, 6-1.
Jack Lyttle (HPU) def. Alex Fillat Perez (UHH), 7-5, 6-3.
Arturo Dell`eva (UHH) def. Juan Erro (HPU), 6-2, 6-7 (6-8), 6-2.
Gregory Zukeran (UHH) def. Adrian Elduque (HPU), 6-3, 6-4.
Doubles
SlezakGiuliato (UHH) def. GayteLyttle (HPU), 8-3.
ErroLoccisano (HPU) def. Fillat PerezBruno Figlia (UHH), 8-5.
ZukeranWu (UHH) def. IrrarrazabalElduque (HPU), 8-5.
Women
Friday
UHH 9, Chaminade 0
Marina Colvee (UHH) def. Catrina Liner (CU), 6-2, 6-1.
Sara Marin (UHH) def. Salamasina Te`i (CU), 6-0, 6-0.
Carmelle Joyner (UHH) def. Cai Yan Fang (CU), 6-0, 6-0.
Irena Le (UHH) def. Elyssa Shirai (CU), 6-0, 6-1.
Cheyenne Schula (UHH) def. Emma Haurillon (CU), 6-0, 6-3.
Gabriela Aguilar Lawlor (UHH) def. Jackie McGreal (CU), 6-0, 6-0.
Doubles
Daniela SanzDevanshi Bhimjiyani (UHH) def. LinerTe`i (CU), 8-2.
ColveeJoyner (UHH) def. ShiraiHaurillon (CU), 8-2.
MarinLe (UHH) def. FangHannah Parker (CU), 8-0.
UCSD 7, UHH 2
Singles
Ashley Chao (UCSD) def. #38 Daniela Sanz (UHH), 6-3, 6-2.
Devanshi Bhimjiyani (UHH) def. Becky Chou (UCSD), 6-0, 6-1.
Alexandra Weil (UCSD) def. Marina Colvee (UHH), 6-2, 6-0.
Jasmine Hosseini (UCSD) def. Sara Marin (UHH), 6-1, 6-0.
#40 Valeria Corral (UCSD) def. Carmelle Joyner (UHH), 6-0, 6-0.
Jessica Cramer (UCSD) def. Irena Le (UHH), 6-4, 6-2.
Doubles
ChaoChou (UCSD) def. SanzBhimjiyani (UHH), 8-4.
WeilMadison Hale (UCSD) def. Colvee]Joyner (UHH), 8-0
MarinLe (UHH) def. Chloe WightNousha Nowamooz (UCSD), 8-6
Sunday
UHH 9, Chaminade 0
Singles
Daniela Sanz (UHH) def. Salamasina Te`i (CUH), 6-2, 6-0
Devanshi Bhimjivani (UHH) def. Emma Haurillon (CUH), 6-0, 6-0.
Marina Colvee (UHH) def. Cai Yan Fang (CUH), 6-0, 6-0.
Sara Marin (UHH) def. Elyssa Shirai (CUH), 6-0, 6-0.
Carmelle Joyner (UHH) def. Hannah Parker (CUH), 6-0, 6-0.
Irena Le (UHH) def. Jackie McGreal (CUH), 6-1, 6-0.
Doubles
Daniela SanzDevanshi Bhimjiyani (UHH) def. Te`iHaurillon (CUH), 8-1.
ColveeJoyner (UHH) def. ShiraiFang (CUH), 8-2.
MarinLe (UHH) def. McGrealParker (CU), 8-0.