LA JOLLA, Calif. – The University of California San Diego men's tennis team upset nationally-ranked No. 10 Hawaii Hilo, 4-3, at Mauna Lani Sports and Fitness Club this afternoon. This is UC San Diego's second win over a top-10 opponent this season, having previously defeated No. 7 Azusa Pacific on Feb. 7.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: UC San Diego 4, Hawaii Hilo 3
Records: UC San Diego 4-1, Hawaii Hilo 0-1
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons started off right, clinching the doubles point. After a Triton loss at third doubles, Sreeganesh Manoharan and Phillip Lan overcame their opponents, 7-5, at first doubles, while Cody Duong and Neil Tengbumroong fought hard to secure a 7-6 (2) win at second doubles to obtain the doubles point.

Singles did not initially go in UC San Diego's favor, as Hawaii Hilo was victorious on courts one through three to grab a 3-1 lead. The Tritons were able to turn things around on courts four through six though. Phillip Lan topped his Vulcan opponent, 6-4, 6-4 to pull UC San Diego within one, and Cody Duong prevailed in a 6-3, 6-4 win over his Vulcan counterpart to tie the score.
 
It all came down to fifth singles. Sreeganesh Manoharan battled to a 7-5 victory in set one, and then breezed to a 6-0 win in set two to seal the upset for the Tritons.
 
COACH'S THOUGHTS
"We have found our way to get up for those teams above us and we're playing loose," said Head Coach Timmer Willing. "We have a different mindset when we have the target on our backs and we need to learn to win when we are the target.
 
"Doubles were again the big factor and Phillip Lan is improving each day and getting more comfortable with college tennis. We had solid play from Cody and Sree giving us reliability, while our guys at the top are competing against some of the best and are continuing to fight to the end."
 
RESULTS
Doubles

1. Sreeganesh Manoharan/Phillip Lan (UCSD) def. Martin Soukal/Chun En Wu (HH) 7-5
2. Cody Duong/Neil Tengbumroong (UCSD) def. Luca Checchia Adell/Santiago DiLoreto (HH) 7-6 (2)
3. Arturo Dell'Eva/Alan Cincunegui Cares (HH) def. Marc Isaia/Marius Ruh (UCSD) 6-2

 
Singles

1. Martin Soukal (HH) def. Sahm Irvine (UCSD) 6-2, 6-3
2. Chun En Wu (HH) def. Marc Isaia (UCSD) 6-1, 6-0
3. Arturo Dell'Eva (HH) def. Neil Tengbumroong (UCSD) 6-2, 6-2
4. Phillip Lan (UCSD) def. Luca Checchia Adell (HH) 6-4, 6-4
5. Sreeganesh Manoharan (UCSD) def. Santiago DiLoreto (HH) 7-5, 6-0
6. Cody Duong (UCSD) def. Alan Cincunegui Cares (HH) 6-3, 6-4

 
UP NEXT
The Tritons will remain in Hawaii tomorrow. UC San Diego will take on No. 9 Hawaii Pacific at 4 p.m. at Mauna Lani Sports and Fitness Club.
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
With 30 national team championships, nearly 150 individual titles and the top student-athlete graduation rate among Division II institutions in the United States, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program annually ranks as one of the most successful in the country.  The Tritons sponsor 23 intercollegiate sport programs that compete on the NCAA Division I and II levels and, in summer 2020, will transition into full Division I status as a member of the Big West Conference.  UC San Diego student-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent.  A total of 82 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships.  In competition, more than 1,300 UC San Diego student-athletes have earned All-America honors.

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