La Jolla, CA (March 10, 2012) – In a road battle for regional position, the 21st ranked Hawai'i Pacific men's tennis team defeated 16th ranked UC San Diego 5-4. A day after dropping a 4-5 match, HPU responded and closed the match. It was Georgi Yordanov who won the final point in comeback fashion.

Yordanov finished last in a match that was tied at four; he lost the first set to UCSD's Junya Yoshida 1-6 and then trailed in the second set 1-4. However, Yordanov bounced back to win the second set 7-6 and then close the match with a 6-2 win in the third set.

HPU was able to take two of the three doubles points. Petr Michnev/Patric Guenther teamed up at first singles for an 8-4 win. Gerald Moretti and Stephan Weling were tested at third singles, pulling out a 9-8 victory.

All three of HPU's wins in singles play required three sets. Third ranked Petr Michnev dropped the first set 4-6 but came back with 6-3, 6-2 triumphs. Adriano Locorotondo won at fifth singles 6-3, 3-6, and 6-2.

In the regional rankings, HPU is third and UCSD is second with Grand Canyon taking the top spot. HPU plays GCU on Tuesday in Las Vegas.

HPU begins the always difficult Las Vegas road trip on Monday against third ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University at 12:30 PM.
 
DOUBLES
Petr Michnev/Patric Guenther (HPU) def. Austin West/Devon Sousa (UCSD) 8-4
Jason Wall/Kona Luu (UCSD) def. Georgi Yordanov/Adriano Locorotondo (HPU) 8-6
Gerald Moretti/Stephan Weling (HPU) def. Junya Yoshida/Sam Ling (UCSD) 9-8
SINGLES
Petr Michnev (HPU) def. Chapman Chan (UCSD) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
Georgi Yordanov (HPU) def. Junya Yoshida (UCSD) 1-6, 7-6, 6-2
Austin West (UCSD) def. Patric Guenther (HPU) 6-2, 6-3
Max Jiganti (UCSD) def. Gerald Moretti (HPU) 6-2, 6-1
Adriano Locorotondo (HPU) def. Sam Ling (UCSD) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
Kona Luu (UCSD) def. Ji Hoon Heo (HPU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3