The fourth-seeded Rainbow Wahine men’s tennis team upset first-seeded and three-time reigning champion Boise State to earn their first-ever trip to the WAC championship match. Hawai'i topped Boise State in a close 4-3 match and will face second-seeded Fresno State in the title match Sunday, 10:00 a.m., at the Aggie Tennis Center.
With the win, the Rainbow Warriors improved to 7-10, while Boise State falls to 21-11. Hawai'i fell behind 1-0 after the Broncos tallied the doubles point, but rallied to earn four singles victories to punch their ticket to the WAC title match. The Rainbow Warriors tallied wins at the No. 2, No. 3, No. 5 and No. 6 positions to clinch the match.
Hawai'i's No. 118-ranked Sascha Heinemann upset No. 77-ranked Clancy Shields, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, at the No. 2 spot, while Andreas Weber defeated Boise State's Brent Werbeck at the No. 3 position, 7-6, 6-1. Spence Mendoza topped Paul Koenke, 7-6, 6-3, at the No. 5 position and Jeff Fitch clinched the match for the Rainbow Warriors with a 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory over Eric Roberson at the No. 6 spot.
No. 32 Boise State fell short of reaching the title match for the first time in four years. Luke Shields was one of two Broncos to earn a single victory, defeating Dennis Lajola in three sets, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3, and also paired with teammate and brother Clancy Shields as the No. 32-ranked doubles tandem to help the Broncos earn the doubles point.
The Rainbow Warriors will be seeking their first-ever WAC Championship and will face No. 49 Fresno State, Sunday, Apr. 27, at 10:00 a.m. at the Aggie Tennis Center.
#4 Hawai'i 4, #1 Boise State 3
Singles competition
1. #94 Luke Shields (BSU) def. Dennis Lajola (UH) 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
2. #108 Sascha Heinemann (UH) def. #77 Clancy Shields (BSU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
3. Andreas Weber (UH) def. Brent Werbeck (BSU) 7-6, 6-1
4. Piotr Dilaj (BSU) def. Craig Faulk (UH) 6-0, 6-1
5. Spence Mendoza (UH) def. Paul Koenke (BSU) 7-6, 6-3
6. Jeff Fitch (UH) def. Eric Roberson (BSU) 3-6, 6-4, 7-5
Order of Finish: 4, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6*
Doubles competition
1. #32 Luke Shields/Clancy Shields (BSU) def. Sascha Heinemann/Andreas Weber (UH) 8-3
2. Eric Roberson/Paul Koenke (BSU) def. Jeff Fitch/Dennis Lajola (UH) 8-3
3. Piotr Dilaj/Steve Robertson (BSU) vs. Craig Faulk/Spence Mendoza (UH) 5-5, DNF
Order of Finish: 1, 2*
Did Not Finish: 3