KAILUA, Oahu, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University women's tennis team caught up with an old but familiar foe Monday.
The Silverswords faced a national power and a highly recognized and well-respected household name in the Division II tennis community in Hawai'i Pacific University at the Kailua Racquet Club.
The Sharks, ranked third nationally in the latest ITA poll, defeated the 'Swords, 7-0. Chaminade fell to 0-7 on the year while HPU improved to 11-5. Despite just five miles separating the two campuses, it was the first meeting between the programs in nearly three years.
The Sharks captured the doubles point after winning the second and third matches. No. 1 doubles between Chaminade's
Kayleen Lau (Wailuku, Maui, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Maui) and
Salamasina Robertson (Hau'ula, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kahuku) and HPU's Elodie Busson and Shaline Pipa were deadlocked at 3 and was unfinished.
In singles, Lau faced off against Pipa, the seventh-ranked singles player in the nation, but fell 6-0, 6-0 in No. 1 singles. Pipa is Lau's highest-ranked singles opponent in her career. Meanwhile, Robertson was matched up in No. 2 against Busson but also dropped her match, 6-1, 6-0. Busson, ranked 34th nationally, was the first ranked singles opponent Robertson had faced.
Kylie Ye (Honolulu/Asia Pacific International School) held her own against Valentina Mokrova in the third spot, winning a game in both sets.
The Silverswords will face the UC Irvine on Saturday, April 9, their third Division I foe of the season, at the Donald Andrews Diamond Head Tennis Center.
Singles:
1. #7 Shaline Pipa (HPU) def.
Kayleen Lau (CUH) 6-0, 6-0
2. #34 Elodie Busson (HPU) def.
Salamasina Robertson (CUH) 6-1, 6-0
3. Valentina Mokrova (HPU) def.
Kylie Ye (CUH) 6-1, 6-1
4. Marta Ruszczynska (HPU) def.
Sydney Danielson (CUH) 6-0, 6-0
5. Rikona Murakami (HPU) def.
Marisa Luna (CUH) 6-0, 6-0
6. Olivia Kjaer (HPU) def.
Skye Haraga (CUH) 6-0, 6-0
Order of finish: 6, 5, 1, 2, 4, 3
Doubles:
1. Busson/Pipa (HPU) def. Lau/Robertson (CUH) 3-3 unfinished
2. Mokrova/Ruszczynska (HPU) def. Ye/Danielson (CUH) 6-0
3. Kjaer/Murakami (HPU) def. Luna/Haraga (CUH) 6-0
Order of finish: 3, 2
