Louisville, KY (May 16, 2012) – The fifth ranked Hawai'i Pacific women's tennis team (18-5) cruised to a 5-0 victory over Colorado Mesa University (19-10) in the Round of 16 at the NCAA Division II National Championships. HPU now moves to the National Quarterfinals tomorrow morning.

HPU took doubles play 3-0 with the Sea Warriors in control from the outset.  Celina Goetti and Ielyzaveta Rybakova put the first point on the board with an 8-1 win at second doubles. The 22nd ranked team of Vivian Hansen and Magdalena Smejova finished next with an identical 8-1 score. Lea Kruse-Utermann and Zora Vlckova closed out doubles play with an 8-3 triumph.
 
The Sea Warriors needed just two singles wins to clinch the match; it was a race to see who would finish. Vlckova, the #11 singles player in the nation, won 6-0, 6-1 at first singles to give HPU a 4-0 advantage. Rybakova then sealed Colorado Mesa's fate with a perfect 6-0, 6-0 win.  HPU led all matches when play was stopped.
 
"I am happy with the way our team played today.  You never know what to expect in the Round of 16, especially when playing a team you haven't met before.  There were some changes to the warm-up rules and preparation, and I think our girls adapted very well to those changes.  We have a big match ahead of us tomorrow, and I think they are ready for anything," said HPU head women's tennis coach Lauren Conching.

HPU will now face Armstrong Atlantic State at 9 AM tomorrow in Louisville.  

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