PO‘IPU — Three long matches, one upset. That’s how the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation state qualifying tennis tournament went down yesterday at the Kiahuna Courts. Kaua‘i’s pair of Megan Vento and Katie Anderson faced off against Kapa‘a’s Kelli Okamoto. The first
PO‘IPU — Three long matches, one upset.
That’s how the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation state qualifying tennis tournament went down yesterday at the Kiahuna Courts.
Kaua‘i’s pair of Megan Vento and Katie Anderson faced off against Kapa‘a’s Kelli Okamoto. The first set was a long one that went in Kapa‘a’s favor in the tie break.
Vento and Anderson bounced back in the next two to win the match, 7-5, 6-1 and 6-1.
Kaua‘i found success again with the unranked Lizzy Schiller. Yesterday, she pulled an upset by defeating her teammate, fourth-ranked Dasha Lagmay. She pulled another upset in the third place match, this time taking down second-ranked Tiffany Lum 7-6 (5), 6-2 and 6-4.
Lum lost to third-ranked Crystine Ito of Kapa‘a earlier in the semifinals.
The third place boys doubles match between Waimea’s Jordan Sato, Michael Haack and S. Pascual and Travis Wakayama also went to three sets. Sato and Haack won the first set 6-2, before coming to a 6-7 (7) tie break in the second. After the split, both teams rallied back and forth until Sato and Haack won 7-5.
In other, matches top-ranked Lyndsey Tom defended her title by beating teammate Crystine Ito, 6-1, 6-2.
Ito joked that it was like last year all over again and that she was surprised she got a few games on her.
“I played her last year and she beat me then,” Ito said. “It was fun though. I’d rather lose to her than play the other girls.”
Waimea’s Harold Shimono, Jr. made it to the finals by defeating his teammate Darrel Nonaka 7-6 (3), 6-4.
“We’re the same school, so it’s harder (to play him) because we’re friends,” Nonaka said.
No. 2 Shimono then faced No. 1 Justin Vea of Island School. Vea won 6-1, 6-1.
This was the first year the tournament featured a third place round.
All players from the semifinals on, will head to Maui for the state championships next month.
For full results, see today’s Scoreboard above.
• Lanaly Cabalo, sports editor, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or lcabalo@kauaipubco.com.
