SAN DIEGO - The Sea Lions hosted one of the top men's tennis teams in the country on Friday afternoon with the Vulcans of Hawaii Hilo in town. The Vulcans would come away with the victory but not without a tough battle from PLNU. Hawaii Hilo jump3ed out to a big lead after sweeping doubles, but the teams would split singles play including an upset at No. 1 singles with Thomas Dafcik taking down the 20th ranked player in the country. 

Doubles play has been trouble for the Sea Lions throughout the season thus far and it would be no different on Friday afternoon as the teams struggled to find their rhythm early in the match. Brendon Millington and Jack Alston went down 8-2 in their match before CJ Erion and Grant Alston followed with an 8-4 loss to put Point Loma down 0-2. Dafcik and Yuki Okamoto put up a tough fight in their doubles match but fell 8-6 to allow the Vulcans to take a commanding lead into singles play. 

Hawaii Hilo was able to earn two quick wins to seal their victory but PLNU was able to secure a few tough wins, showing they would not go down easy. Tim Soderman earned a big win to give Point Loma their first point of the day with his 6-3, 6-3 victory in No. 5 singles. Dafcik would be the next Sea Lions to earn a victory, this time over a nationally ranked opponent, his first such win on the season. Ben Smit would also get a win for the Sea Lions at No. 6 singles but the Vulcans would take the match 6-3.

Team Records
Point Loma 11-6, Hawaii Hilo 14-1

Wheeler's Words
On Dafcik's recent singles success: "Thomas has been playing extremely well lately, especially in singles. The consistency he shows in fighting hard for every point and staying mentally tough sets the tone for our entire team during singles play. He has been a big reason why our singles play as a team has been so strong this year."

On the team's ability to bounce back after a doubles sweep: "The guys showed a tremendous amount of resiliency today in singles after being swept in doubles. This ability to bounce back quickly after a disappointing performance in doubles will give them confidence during the stretch run. I was very happy with the effort and fight during singles."

News and Notes
> This was the third nationally ranked opponent Dafcik has faced this season. 
> Dafcik has also won his last five singles matches. 
> The Sea Lions have won at least two of the three doubles matches in only six matches this season.

Up Next
Point Loma will be off for a week before hosting Biola next Saturday, April 7th, at 2 p.m.

#11 Hawaii Hilo 6, #49 Point Loma 3
Singles competition
1. Thomas Dafcik (PLNU-MT) def. #20 Vaclav Slezak (UHH-MT) 6-4, 6-3
2. Alessandro Giuliato (UHH-MT) def. Brendon Millington (PLNU-MT) 6-1, 6-1
3. Chun En Wu (UHH-MT) def. CJ Erion (PLNU-MT) 6-0, 6-3
4. Alex Fillat Perez (UHH-MT) def. Jack Alston (PLNU-MT) 6-2, 4-6, 10-7
5. Tim Soderman (PLNU-MT) def. Arturo Dell'Eva (UHH-MT) 6-3, 6-3
6. Ben Smit (PLNU-MT) def. Stefan Coney (UHH-MT) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Vaclav Slezak/Alessandro Giuliato (UHH-MT) def. Brendon Millington/Jack Alston (PLNU-MT) 8-2
2. Bruno Figlia/Alex Fillat Perez (UHH-MT) def. Thomas Dafcik/Yuki Okamoto (PLNU-MT) 8-6
3. Gregory Zukeran/Chun En Wu (UHH-MT) def. CJ Erion/Grant Alston (PLNU-MT) 8-4

Match Notes:
Hawaii Hilo 14-1; National ranking #11
Point Loma 11-6; National ranking #49
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,2,5,1,6,4)
T-3:38