Waipahu, HI (March 26, 2011) – In what amounted to a playoff, where the winner would likely be sent to the national tournament and the loser home, Hawai'i Pacific willed a win over Grand Canyon University 5-4. The win over another West Region power, completes HPU's Division II resume. The Sea Warriors swept both matches with GCU and UH-Hilo, as well as winning against Sonoma State.

With so much on the line, both teams came out playing well with lots of intensity. HPU fell behind 2-1 after doubles play.  Petr Michnev teamed up with Ji Hoon Heo to win 8-5 at second doubles.

The 6-3 freshman, Ari Davis, finished singles first, and tied the match at two with a straight set win over Will Herbert 6-4, 6-3. Soon after, GCU regained the lead when JC Pauli lost at fourth singles. In a wild match, Matiss Libietis held on for a 6-1, 6-7, 6-3 win. The Latvian product cruised to the victory in the first set, and took a 5-2 lead in the second, but could not close it out. Unshaken, Libietis responded with a 6-3 triumph in the decisive set. With the match tied at three, HPU's big gun, Michnev used a comeback win to put HPU in front. The Sea Warriors' ace dropped the first set 4-6, but righted the ship wining the next two sets 6-2. HPU needed to win one of the final two matches, but things looked bleak, as second and third singles were both down 4-3 in the third set. Suffering from multiple ailments, Heo gutted out a 6-4 win to seal the match for HPU.

HPU now awaits word from the West Region Committee on their postseason future, who will meet early next week.  HPU hosts NAIA Idaho College on Tuesday at CORP at 3:30 PM.

1. Petr Michnev (HPU) def. Frederic Schoelzel (GCU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
2. Stepane Murray (GCU) def. Sebastian Bader (HPU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
3. Ji Hoon Heo (HPU) def. Ahmad Saleem (GCU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
4. Patrice Giraldi (GCU) def. JC Pauli (HPU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Matiss Libietis (HPU) def. Kevin Anderson (GCU) 6-1, 6-7, 6-3
6. Ari Davis (HPU) def. Will Herbert (GCU) 6-4, 6-3