ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL (May 14, 2014) – The Hawai'i Pacific Women's Tennis Team (19-6) blanked Midwestern State (23-4) 5-0 in the Round of 16 at the NCAA Division II National Championships on Wednesday in Central Florida.
The match featured a lengthy delay due to rain and lightning in the area, but it was worth the wait for Sea Warrior fans. HPU swept doubles play, but it wasn't easy.
Vivian Hansen and
Lea Kruse-Utermann got HPU on the board first with a 9-7 win at third doubles. The first doubles team of
Karen Ramirez and
Celina Goetti defeated the #20 doubles team in the nation 8-6. The win could help Ramirez and Goetti move up in the final doubles rankings.
Lorena Gheorghe and
Magdalena Smejova put HPU in prime position to advance with an 8-5 win at second doubles.
In singles, HPU needed to win just two matches. Team MVP Gheorghe picked up the fourth point with a 6-2, 6-2 win. Kruse-Utermann then clinched the match at sixth singles with a straight set win (6-3, 6-2). When the match was called Hansen, Goetti, and Ramirez were winning their matches.
HPU advances to play Columbus State tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. in Altamonte Springs.
Singles
| 1. #39 Amy Clifton (MSU) vs. #21 Karen Ramirez (HPU-WT) 2-6, 6-6 (3-5), unfinished |
| 2. #41 Kayla Casey (MSU) vs. Celina Goetti (HPU-WT) 1-6, 3-5, unfinished |
| 3. Taylor Coffman (MSU) vs. Magdalena Smejova (HPU-WT) 6-2, 4-5, unfinished |
| 4. Lorena Gheorghe (HPU-WT) def. Courtney Anderson (MSU) 6-2, 6-2 |
| 5. Lauren Pineda (MSU) vs. Vivian Hansen (HPU-WT) 6-7 (4-7), 1-2, unfinished |
| 6. Lea Kruse-Utermann (HPU-WT) def. Paige Boykin (MSU) 6-3, 6-2 |
Doubles
