HONOLULU – No. 9 Hawai'i Pacific University went the distance, but Division I West Coast Conference member Saint Mary's (Calif.) came away with a 4-3 victory on Monday at the Kailua Racquet Club.
 
The Sharks (3-2) took three of the singles points, but lost the doubles point to the Gaels (2-0) that was the ultimate difference.
 
The Sharks won took No. 3 doubles with Cheng-Chieh Wang and Royhei Arai beating Felipe Rincon and Andy Watterson 6-3, but dropped two other close doubles matches. Benjamin Loccisano and Ondrej Ctverak went into a tiebreaker before the Gaels James Watt and Boris Reckow claimed a 7-6 (7-4) win at No. 1 doubles. Then Marcel Hornung and Matej Panik fell in an extended set at No. 2 to Matis Bot and Karlo Divkovic 7-5 as SMC took the doubles point.
 
HPU fought back in the singles, taking the top two spots with Loccisano beating Watt 6-4, 7-6 at No. 1 and Ctverak downing Divkovic 6-2, 6-0.
 
Saint Mary's won at No. 3 with Rincon beating Arai 6-3, 6-2, and Abhishek Bastola defeating Hornung 6-3, 6-2.
 
The match came down to the bottom of the order, with HPU tying the match by winning No. 6 singles with Wang taking a three-setter over Reckow 3-6, 7-6, 6-1.
 
However, the Gaels prevailed at No. 5 as Bot beat Panik 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 to win the point and match.
 
The Sharks will be in action again on Sunday, Feb. 16 when they face UC San Diego in a neutral site match in Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i at the Houla Tennis Center. Match time is set for 1:30 p.m.