Air Force Academy
Hawaii
Air Force defeats Hawaii, 4-3
4/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
April 18, 2003
In a battle of two legendary tennis coaches, the Air Force men's tennis team improved its record to 19-5 with a 4-3 win over the University of Hawaii Friday at the Academy. The Falcons are one victory away from recording their first 20-win season in four years.
Hawaii's head coach Jim Schwitters is the all-time leader in career wins among active Division I coaches, while Air Force coach Rich Gugat is fourth on that list. Gugat took home his 659th career victory in the first match between the two teams since Air Force left the Western Athletic Conference with seven other schools prior to the 2000 season.
Air Force earned the doubles point with victories at No. 1 and No. 3. Air Force's No. 1 team of Eric Pittman and Tyler McClung improved their record to 24-4 overall and 20-2 in dual matches as they eked out a 9-8 victory over Hawaii's top team of Malino Oda and Justin Menolascino. AFA's Shannon Buck and Tyler West combined to beat Reginaldo Moralejo and Francisco Brignole, 8-6, at the No. 3 spot.
Air Force won the team match by splitting the six singles matches. Buck improved to 22-1 at No. 1 singles with a convincing 6-1, 6-2 victory over Ryan Sceats. Hawaii came back, however, to win the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 matches, including three-setters and Nos. 2 and 4. Oda beat Pittman, 5-7, 6-1, then 10-2 in a tiebreak at 3-all in the third set at No. 2, while Moralejo beat AFA's Chris Dong, 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 at No. 4.
The Falcons clinched the match with wins by freshmen Trevor Johnson (No. 5) and Martin Black (No. 6). Johnson beat Brignole, 6-3, 6-1, while Black defeated Jarrod Diepraam, 7-6, 6-4.
Air Force plays its final match of the season on Saturday, April 19, against the University of Denver. The match is at the Academy, beginning at 10 a.m.
Air Force 4, Hawaii 3
Singles
1. Shannon Buck (AFA) def. Ryan Sceats 6-1, 6-2
2. Malino Oda (Haw) def. Eric Pittman 5-7, 6-1, 3-3 (10-2)
3. Justin Menolascino (Haw) def. Tyler McClung 7-5, 6-4
4. Reginaldo Moralejo (Haw) def. Chris Dong 6-3, 4-6, (10-8)
5. Trevor Johnson (AFA) def. Francisco Brignole 6-3, 6-1
6. Martin Black (AFA) def. Jarrod Diepraam 7-6, 6-4
Doubles
1. Pittman/McClung (AFA) def. Oda/Menolascino 9-8(6)
2. Diepraam/Sceats (Haw) def. Dong/Black 8-3
3. Buck/Tyler West (AFA) def. Moralejo/Brignole 8-6
