Eleven months after having their season coming to an abrupt halt, the Chaminade University women's tennis team is back to finish what they started in 2020.
The Silverswords will open their 2021 season Saturday with a pair of matches against Hawai'i Hilo at the Fairmont Orchid Tennis Center in Kona on the Big Island.
Seventh-year head coach
Ty Aki has three returnees from last season include
Catrina Liner (Corvallis, Ore./Corvallis),
Kayleen Lau (Wailuku, Maui, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Maui) and
Emily Ramirez Miranda (Honolulu/Kaiser).
Liner is the most experienced returnee with two-and-a-half years as the 'Swords' No. 1 singles player. Lau totaled three wins as a freshman last season and has a two-match winning streak that has carried over into this season. Ramirez Miranda gained valuable experience with two matches in '20.
The 'Swords are bolstered by the return of
Salamasina Te`i (Hau'ula, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kahuku) who sat out last year while she had training commitments with the United States Air Force. Her last playing season in 2019, Te`i totaled seven wins, four in singles.
Chaminade is joined by freshman
Marisa Luna (Kahului, Maui, Hawai'i/Maui) who rounds out the roster.
With several teams opting out as well as the discontinuation of the Sonoma State program, the Silverswords will be one of the 10 teams to participate in the Pacific West Conference Championships in Surprise, Ariz. in April. It will be the 'Swords' first postseason berth since 2012.
Due to the continued uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the remainder of the schedule is still being pieced together and will be posted when the matches are confirmed.
