The BYU-Hawaii Women’s tennis team, now ranked #3 nationally and #1 in the region, earned an invitation to the NCAA Division II National Championships after winning the Pacific West Conference championships held at Central Oahu Regional Park in Waipio. In the championship match of the Pacific West Conference Tournament, the Seasiders beat third-ranked Hawaii Pacific University 5-0 sweeping all three doubles matches and earning wins at each of the top two singles slots. In doubles play, Annie Hwang and Sherry Liu combined for an 8-2 win at the number one doubles slot while Marietta Tuionetoa and Marika Kobayashi won 8-3 at number two doubles. Sasha Ulbrichtova and Jade Griffin have claimed an 8-6 win at the third position. In singles play, Hwang took a 6-1, 6-1 decision at the top spot and Liu claimed a 6-2, 6-3 victory at the number two singles slot. Hwang was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. The Women, whose only loss came earlier in the year came to Hawaii Pacific, avenged their prior defeat to improve to an incredible 27-1 for the season. During the conference tournament, the Seasiders swept #38 Academy of Art 5-0 and later beat #13 Grand Canyon 5-1 leading up to the championship match. The Seasiders gave up just a single point in three consecutive matches winning all doubles matches and dropping just one singles contest. With the win, the Seasiders have extended their win streak to 18-straight matches. Their last and only loss of the season dates back to February 27, over two months ago, when the Women lost to Hawaii Pacific in a close 5-4 battle in Laie. BYU-Hawaii will now await an official invitation and seeding for the NCAA II National Championship Tournament, which will be played May 8th-12th in Surprise, Arizona.
Writer: Austin Meldrum ~ Copy Editor
