There’s one constant and one surprise in KIF tennis at the midpoint of the season. The Red Raider girls, who were favorites going in, hold down the top spot over the Warriors. In the meantime, the surprise is the Waimea
There’s one constant and one surprise in KIF tennis at the midpoint of the season.
The Red Raider girls, who were favorites going in, hold down the top spot over the Warriors.
In the meantime, the surprise is the Waimea boys, who sit atop the standings, followed by Island, Kaua‘i, Kula, and Kapa‘a.
“I’m actually kind of surprised that Kula hasn’t made a better showing in the league.
They have the better tennis players from top to bottom, but they’re a really small team and it’s a matter of who shows up to play,” Kapa‘a coach Jon Tom said.
The Menehune boys, who are under the direction of a first-year coach, have risen to the top of the boys race because of shear determination.
“Waimea worked really hard. I’m pleasantly surprised and they’ve earned their place so far,” Tom said.
According to Tom, so far this season, the girls matches have been pretty competitive.
“We haven’t had that type of parity in past years. The competition level has been raised,” Tom said.
On the boys side, the big hitters from Kula in Alex Latif and Kyle Barrett, along with Island’s Justin Vea, are playing to their potential.
KIF tennis continues on Saturday, with Island School battling Kapa‘a at the Kiahuna Tennis Courts. Meanwhile, over in Hanapepe, the Red Raiders will joust with the Menehune. Both matches begin at 12 noon.
Here are results from past matches:
March 28 results:
Boys: Kapa‘a 3, Kula 2, Girls: Kapa‘a 5, Kula 0
Boys Singles: 1. Kyle Barett (Kula) def. Daniel Rodrick (6-1, 6-0), 2. Taylor Alfiler (Kapa’a) def. Matt Vinsko (6-1, 6-4).
Boys Doubles: 1. Kula forfeit, 2. Kibo Smith / Kai Anderson (Kula) def. Travis Wakayama/Matt Hanley 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 3. Kula forfeit.
Girls Singles: 1. Kula forfeit, 2. Crystine Ito (Kapa’a) def. Nora Robertson (6-1, 6-0).
Girls Doubles: 1. Kula forfeit, 2. Courtney Kerlin/Cherine Ito (Kapa’a) def. Bailey Bierlein/Anna Novoselova (6-0, 6-1), 3. Eryn O’Shaughnessy /Lauren Esaki (Kapa’a) def. Diane Sater and Elli Sherrer (6-1, 6-3).
April 1 results:
Boys Results, Kula 3, Island 2
1st singles: Kyle Barrett Kula def. Justin Vea I.S. 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) in the second set tiebreaker, 2nd singles: Kevin Dhorne I.S. def. Kyle Sherrer
1st doubles: Dylan Latif/Matt Vinsco (Kula) def. Andrew Rowan/Justin Pelton (I.S.) 3-6, 7-5,7-5, 2nd doubles: Kibo Smith/Kai Anderson (Kula) def. Ashton Perez/Ryan Bender (I.S.) 6-2, 6-4, 3rd doubles: Trent Robison/Noah Randolph-Flagg (I.S.) def. Kula.
Girls Results, Island 4, Kula 1
1st singles: Ariel Carlson (Kula) def. Taylor Dabin (I.S.) 6-0,6-0, 2nd singles: I.S. def. by Kula default, 1st doubles: Lena McRoberts/Sky Smith (I.S.) def. Kula by default, 2nd doubles: Juli Blachowiak/Jessica Duarte (I.S.) def. Bailey Bierlein/Anna Novasolova (Kula) 6-4, 7-5, 3rd doubles: Natasha Arruda/Nicole Arruda (I.S.) def. Diane Sater/Elli Sherrer (Kula) 6-3,7-5, Exhibition matches: Taylor James/Hokulani Koerte (I.S.) def. Diane Slater/Elli Sherrer (Kula) 8-4, Lena McRoberts/Sky Smit (I.S.) def. Bailey Bierlein/Anna Novasolova (Kula) 4-2(retired).
