PO‘IPU — The first doubles match took longer than the whole entire meet did. Kapa‘a partners Kelli Okamoto and Stephanie Kawamura played against Island School’s Taylor Dabin and Juli Blachoviak in a match that just wouldn’t end. The two-and-a-half hour
PO‘IPU — The first doubles match took longer than the whole entire meet did.
Kapa‘a partners Kelli Okamoto and Stephanie Kawamura played against Island School’s Taylor Dabin and Juli Blachoviak in a match that just wouldn’t end. The two-and-a-half hour match was close, with Island School taking the first set, 7-5.
The second set went just as long, with Kapa‘a winning 7-5. With the third, being the deciding factor, Okamoto and Kawamura held on to win 6-4.
Kapa‘a’s Lyndsey Tom continued to show why she’s the top player, defeating Jasmine Blaine 6-0, 6-0. Kapa‘a’s No. 2 Cristine Ito won her match against Dianna Cowern 6-3, 6-2.
Kapa‘a doubles Cherine Ito and Mailika Napoleon dropped Jessica Duarte and Niki Arruda 6-0, 6-0. Kapa‘a’s third doubles team Eryn O’Shaugnessy and Tori Yatogo beat Tayler James and Sky Smith 6-2, 6-4.
The Warriors head coach Jon Tom attributed the win to their conditioning.
“I think it goes to their full athletic ability,” he said. “We’re ready to play anyone from a conditioning standpoint. We’re not afraid to play anybody.”
Kapa‘a’s boys doubles gave them the win over Island School yesterday, 3-2.
Kapa‘a’s pair of Daniel Rodrick and Mathew Henley won over Andrew Rowan and Justin Pelton 6-1, 6-4. Kila Youn and Travis Wakayama beat Noah Randolf-Flagg and Eric Talvi, 6-4, 6-3. In the boys’ closest doubles match-up, Kapa‘a’s Dustin Valdez and Ador Lopez faced off against Ryan Bender and Hunter Coberly going into extra sets. Valdez and Lopez won two out of three, 7-6, 4-6 and 6-0.
“It was a tough match for us,” said Island School head coach Ernie Blachoviak. “Unfortunately we came up a bit short. But we had some close matches and it was a great day. The kids played hard and that’s all you can ask for.”
The Island School Voyagers may have lost the overall match, but their No.1 and No. 2 players each took their matches.
Island School’s No.1 Justin Vea beat Kapa‘a Adam Kerlin 6-0, 6-1, while Ashton Perez took his match against Steven Pascual 6-1, 6-2.
The tennis results for the Waimea High School/Kula School match were not made available by press time.
Island School next plays Waimea this Saturday at the Kiahuna Courts at noon.
Kaua‘i High School’s teams play Kapa‘a, also at the Kiahuna Courts at 2 p.m.
• Lanaly Cabalo, sports editor, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or lcabalo@kauaipubco.com.