IRVINE, Calif.- The UC Irvine men's tennis team triumphed in a 5-2 decision to Hawaii, Saturday afternoon at the University of Hawaii Tennis Complex.
 
UCI moves to 13-5 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
 
Quote from Head Coach Mike Saunders
"Total team win today. We were able to earn the victory over a dangerous Hawaii team who was coming off a big win against Davis at Davis. And we had to do so without one of our starters in the doubles lineup and two of our starters out of the singles lineup. Our guys are learning the power of focusing on being the better competitor and discovering their competitive warrior self. I was incredibly proud of both senior Vatsal Bajpai and freshman Mike Mkrtchian who stepped up. Both played with incredible passion and courage to get us two huge wins at 5 and 6. Good things happen when you are united, play together, for each other."
 
INSIDE THE MATCH
> UCI earned the doubles point with wins at Nos. 1 and 3
> Luis Lopez/Bruce Man-Son-Hing grabbed a 6-4 win at the top spot over Andre Illagan/Lucas Labrunie
> Sasha Krasnov and Daniel Gealer sealed the point with a 6-4 win at No. 3
> Krasnov continued his impressive day with a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 1 singles over UH's Illagan
> Lopez dominated at No. 2, winning 6-3, 6-1
>Vatsal Bajpai earned a gritty win at No. 5 singles, defeating Asad Siyyid in three sets, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
> On court six, Mike Mkrtchian stepped up and delivered a 7-6 (2)-, 6-4 victory over Chia-Hua Lu
 
Up Next
> UCI continues conference play with a match against UC Santa Barbara Saturday, April 13 at 1 p.m.
 
 
Doubles

1. Luis Lopez/Bruce Man-Son-Hing def. Andre Ilagan/Lucas Labrunie, 6-4
2. Mateusz Smolicki/Vatsal Bajpai vs. Blaz Seric/Simao Telo Alves, 5-6
3. Sasha Krasnov/Daniel Gealer def. Chia-Hua Lu/Asad Siyyid, 6-4

 
Singles

1. Krashnov def. Ilagan, 6-3, 6-4
2. Lopez def. Labrunie, 6-3, 6-1
3. Seric def. Gealer, 6-7 (5), 0-6
4. Alves def. Aaron Bailey, 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (2-7)
5. Bajpai def. Siyyid, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
6. Mike Mkrtchian def. Lu, 7-6 (2), 6-4