KAILUA, Hawai'i – The ninth ranked Hawai'i Pacific University men chalked up a huge early season victory, beating defending NCAA II semifinalist No. 4 Hawai'i Hilo 6-1 on Monday afternoon to wrap up the men's side of the Hawai'i Invitational.
 
The No. 9 Sharks (4-0) swept through the fourth ranked Vulcans (1-3), except for the final position.
 
HPU dominated doubles to get the early point. HPU won the top two positions, with Jordi Walder and Jan Pleva dispatching Martin Soukal and Alessio DeMichelis 6-3 at No. 1, while Jakub Beran and Robin Sanz dumped Joshua Liu and Luca Matheiowetz 6-1. Benjamin Loccisano and Jan Heine held a 4-3 lead against Agustin Gentile and Luca Checchia when the point was won.
 
The featured singles match was completed after the Sharks had clinched the match. The battle at No. 1 between Walder and Soukal went three sets. Soukal took the first 6-1, before Walder won the second and third 6-2, 6-3.
 
The second, third and fourth spots nearly ended together. HPU went up 2-0 after Beran beat Checchia 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4, followed by Sanz win against Gentile 6-3, 6-0 at No. 3 and Pleva clinching the win at No. 2 over DeMichelis 6-3, 6-2. Loccisano then triumphed at No. 5 against Matheiowetz 6-4, 6-2.
 
The lone loss for HPU was the last match on the court, as UHH's Liu took a split sets win over Heine 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 for the Vulcans only point.
 
After four matches since last Friday, the Sharks will take a nearly month-long break from the competitive court. HPU returns to play on Thursday, March 10 when the Sharks visit San Diego to start a six-match Spring Break trip by taking on Point Loma.