Experience mixed with youth is what best describes the Chaminade University women's tennis team as they get set for their season opener.
The Silverswords return four veterans who have at least two years of playing experience – including three of the four seniors – who have seen time on the collegiate court.
After a fall semester and nearly a month of spring practices in the books, the 'Swords will see what they are capable of when they open the season Friday at the Fairmont Orchid Tennis Center on the Big Island's Kohala Coast.
Chaminade faces Dallas Baptist in its opener at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Saturday tilt against Pacific West Conference member Stanislaus State and island rival Hawai'i Hilo on Sunday.
"I am excited and have good vibes for our ladies," said
Ty Aki, who is entering his sixth year as the Silverswords' head coach. "They are working hard and putting a lot of effort into both school work and their tennis game."
Seniors
Elyssa Shirai (Waipahu, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Waipahu) and
Cai Yan Fang (Zhongshan, China/McKinley) both are entering their fourth years of collegiate competition while fellow senior
Tomomi Kohno (Tokyo, Japan/McKinely) and junior
Catrina Liner (Corvallis, Ore./Corvallis) are beginning their third.
Liner enters the year as the consensus No. 1 in both singles and doubles, having played all 20 of her career singles matches at No. 1 while playing each match in No. 1 doubles.
Shirai is the frontrunner for the No. 2 spot in singles and is a possible playing partner with Liner as Chaminade's top doubles team. Fang and Kohno round out the returnees and will help provide experience and guidance to the incoming rookies.
Among the newcomers are two promising freshman,
Kayleen Lau (Wailuku, Maui, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Maui), who won three Maui Interscholastic League titles at Kahmehameha-Maui with four appearances in the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association state tournaments, and
Emily Ramirez Miranda (Honolulu/Kaiser), a four-year player on the Kaiser High tennis squad. Also joining the 'Swords is Mariel Ramirez, a senior who is making her collegiate competition debut this year.
This season the Silverswords will be playing their home matches at the historic Donald A. Andrews Diamond Head Tennis Center across from Kapiolani Park along Paki Ave. The facility has seen some of the best to play the sport including Pancho Gonzales, Arthur Ashe and Andre Agassi.
The 'Swords will make their home debut on Monday, March 2 against Division I Stetson University, the first of seven home dates, all played consecutively. Among the opponents at home are two dates each against UH Hilo and UC Santa Cruz as well as perennial national power Hawai'i Pacific University.
"Our ladies' team is anxious and excited to get started," Aki said.
