TULSA, Okla. – Four members of the University of Hawai`i men's tennis team opened the fall season in the prequalifying rounds of the D'Novo/ITA All-American Championships, Oct. 2 at Michael D. Case Tennis Center. Three of four Rainbow Warriors won their opening match, while senior Jeremy Tweedt won a pair of matches to advance to the round of 64.

 

Tweedt, a native of Paris, France, took down Dmitry Suslov of Oral Roberts 6-4, 6-2, to open the tournament, then out-lasted James McKie, Drake University 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. The senior will be back in action on Sunday and can earn one of 16 spots in Monday's qualifiers with a pair of wins.

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Meanwhile, three other Rainbow Warriors were in action. Freshman Jared Spiker battled past Bryan Marchant of Utah State 7-6 (5), 7-5, before falling to Dave Thomson of N.C. State 6-0, 6-3 in the round of 128. Fellow freshman Jonathan Brooklyn also advanced to the round of 128 with a 6-4, 7-6 (5) win over Tobias Flood of SMU. However, Brooklyn was defeated by Nelson Vick of Ohio State, 6-1, 6-3 in his next match. Sophomore Dmytro Kovalyov received an opening-round bye then barely lost to Benjamin Chomette of Old Dominion 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (5).

 

Tweedt will square off against Benedikt Lindheim of Nebraska on Sunday. Senior Dennis Lajola begins play in Monday's qualifying rounds.