MANOA, HI (May 3, 2014) – The fifth ranked Hawai'i Pacific Women's Tennis Team (18-6) punched its ticket to the NCAA DII National Championships after sweeping #13 Academy of Art (17-4) 5-0 in the NCAA West Regional. This is the eighth consecutive year that the team has qualified for nationals.

The Sea Warriors raced out to a 3-0 lead after doubles play in the match played at the University of Hawaii Tennis Complex. The second doubles team of Magdalena Smejova and Lorena Gheorghe faced little resistance in an 8-3 win. The duo of Celina Goetti and Karen Ramirez was right behind them with an 8-4 triumph.  At third doubles, Lea Kruse-Utermann and Vivian Hansen gutted out 9-7 victory to put HPU in the driver's seat.

The Sea Warriors just needed two more wins in singles to clinch the match. Smejova, playing in her last match in Hawai'i, won her match 6-3, 6-2 at third singles. Goetti, also a senior, sent everyone home with a 6-3, 6-3 victory at second singles.

The Sea Warriors will now await the draw at the national tournament that begins on May 14th in Orlando.