LAS VEGAS – UC Riverside completed day one in Las Vegas at UNLV's Fertitta Tennis Complex on Friday, falling 4-1 to New Mexico State and 4-1 to Hawaii. 

A veteran-freshman combination took the lone doubles point for the Highlanders, as Daniel Velek and Aarav Sane won on court three to tie the morning's doubles session at one before UCR battled but fell in the doubles clincher on one. 

UC Riverside would not go down without a fight though in singles play against the Aggies. Velek and Sane each forced their opponents to tiebreakers on courts two and six, respectively, while Andreas Whelan-Merediz won on court four in a dominating 6-2, 7-5 win. 

Freshman Justin Lamy took a one-set lead and was tied at four on court five before his match was abandoned. 

The Highlanders took on Hawaii on Friday afternoon with Velek and Sane once again claiming a doubles point for UCR in a dramatic 7-6 (6) match on court three. Nolan McCaig and Ryan Huynh also took their opponents to a tiebreaker, while Lamy and Joshua Roth pushed their opponents to the brink. 

Velek picked up the win in singles play against the Rainbow Warriors while matches from Lamy and McCaig went unfinished. 

UCR will close out play in Las Vegas with two matches on Saturday, January 29 from the Fertitta Tennis Complex. The Highlanders will take on Weber State and 10:00 a.m. before facing host UNLV at 2:00 p.m.

Match 1 - UC Riverside 1, New Mexico State 4

Doubles

1. Menard/Visses (NMSU) def. Joshua Roth/Andreas Whelan-Merediz - 6-4
2. Clarke/Akkermans (NMSU) def. Nolan McCaig/Ryan Huynh - 6-2
3. Daniel Velek/Aarav Sane (UCR) def. Feigin/Simecek (NMSU) - 6-2

Singles

1. Nolan McCaig (UCR) vs. Louis Menard (NMSU) - 6-7, 2-5, not finished
2. Martin Simecek (NMSU) def. Daniel Velek (UCR) - 6-3, 7-6 (4)
3. Corey Clark (NMSU) def. Joshua Roth (UCR) - 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
4. Andreas Whelan-Merediz (UCR) def. Gijs Akkermans (NMSU) - 6-2, 7-5
5. Justin Lamy (UCR) vs. Itay Feigin (NMSU) - 5-7, 4-4, not finished
6. Jordy Visser (NMSU) def. Aarav Sane (UCR) - 2-6, 6-7 (6)

Order of finish: Doubles (2, 3, 1); Singles (4, 6, 3, 2)

Team Records: UC Riverside 0-2,  New Mexico State 2-0

Match 2 - UC Riverside 1, Hawaii 4

Doubles

1. Simão Telo Alves/Karl Collins (HAW) def. Justin Lamy/Joshua Roth (UCR) - 7-5
2. Axel LaBrunie/Andy Hernandez (HAW) def. Nolan McCaig/Ryan Huynh (UCR) - 7-6 (7)
3. Daniel Velek/Aarav Sane (UCR) def. Guillaume Tattevin/Kilian Maitre (HAW) - 7-6 (6)

Singles

1. Nolan McCaig (UCR) vs. Simão Telo Alves (HAW) - 5-7, 2-1, not finished
2. Daniel Velek (UCR) def. Karl Collins (HAW) - 6-1, 6-0
3. Guillaume Tattevin (HAW) def. Joshua Roth (UCR) - 6-0, 6-4
4. Kilian Maitre (HAW) def. Andreas Whelan-Merediz (UCR) - 6-1, 6-0
5. Justin Lamy (UCR) vs. Andy Hernandez (HAW) - 6-4, 1-6, not finished
6. Cody Castro (HAW) def. Aarav Sane (UCR) - 6-2, 6-2

Order of finish: Doubles (1, 3, 2); Singles (2, 4, 3, 6)

Team Records: Hawaii 1-1, UC Riverside 0-3