HONOLULU, O'ahu – In its first Big West conference competition in more than a year, the University of California, Riverside, (UCR) men's tennis team dropped its 2021 debut with a 7-0 loss to the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors in a road match Monday at the UH Tennis Complex. The Rainbow Warriors were dominant over the Highlanders, dropping only one set across singles and doubles action.
 
The Highlanders continued play against Rainbow Warriors again in a non-conference match at the UH Tennis Complex on Tuesday, March 23. The home team successfully clinched two for two against UCR with a 6-1 defeat.

Despite two defeats, Head Coach Mattias Johansson is looking ahead, saying, "Overall, we played a much better match on the second day than the first. We had match point at #2 doubles. Gilbert Chung had a close 6-7 first set, and Nolan had two tough sets at #4." He continued, "Jayson Blando fought hard to get our lonely point, so definitely credit to him. It's a different season that's for sure. We are happy to be out there playing tennis again and competing. Our goal is to just improve day by day and see how far that takes us."

Next, the Highlanders are slated to travel to Las Vegas for a doubleheader against UNLV on March 30 beginning at 10 AM. 

Hawaii 7, UCR 0
March 22, 2021
Honolulu, O'ahu. (UH Tennis Complex)
 
Doubles
1. Andre Ilagan / Lucas Labrunie (UH) def. Gilbert Chung / Nolan McCraig (UCR) 6-3
2. Blaz Seric / Axel Labrunie (UH)  def. Antreas Djakouris / Joshua Roth (UCR) 6-2
3. Simão Telo Alves / Tristan Martins (UH)  def. Jayson Blando / Michael Blando (UCR)  6-4
Order of finish: 1, 2*, 3
  
Singles
1. Andre Ilagan (UH)  def. Gilbert Chung (UCR) 6-0, 6-2
2. Lucas Labrunie (UH)  def. Antreas Djakouris (UCR)  6-2, 6-1
3. Blaz Seric (UH) def. Nolan McCraig (UCR) 6-2, 7-6(4)
4. Axel Labrunie (UH) def. Joshua Roth (UCR) 7-6(3), 6-0
5. Simão Telo Alves (UH)  def. Jayson Blando (UCR) 6-4, 6-4
6. Tristan Martins (UH)  def. Michael Blando (UCR) 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3*, 4, 5, 6

Hawai'i 6, UCR 1
March 23, 2021
Honolulu, O'ahu (UH Tennis Complex)
 
Doubles
1. Axel Labrunie/Lucas Labrunie (UH) def. Gilbert Chung/Joshua Roth (UCR) 6-2
2. Blaz Seric/Andre Ilagan (UH) def. Antreas Djakouris/Nolan McCraig (UCR) 7-6 (5)
3. Tristan Martins/Simao Telo Alves (UH) def. Jayson Blando/Michael Blando (UCR) 6-4
Order of finish: (1, 3*, 2)
 
Singles
1. Andre Ilagan (UH) def. Antreas Djakouris (UCR) 6-3, 6-1
2. Lucas Labrunie (UH) def. Gilbert Chung (UCR) 7-6 (1), 6-2
3. Blaz Seric (UH) def. Joshua Roth (UCR) 6-1, 6-3
4. Axel Labrunie (UH) def. Nolan McCraig (UCR) 6-4, 7-5
5. Simao Telo Alves (UH) def. Michael Blando (UCR) 6-2, 6-1
6. Jayson Blando (UCR) def. Tristan Martins (UH) 7-5, 6-7 (3), 10-8
Order of finish: (5, 3, 1*, 2, 4, 6)