ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – No. 9 Hawai'i Pacific University dropped only one set on the way to a 4-0 shutout victory against No. 19 St. Edward's (Texas) in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Championships on Wednesday morning in Sanlando Park.
 
The Sharks (15-5), the number five seed in the tournament, advance to meet No. 5 Columbus State (Ga.) (25-4), the fourth seed, in the quarterfinals on Thursday. Columbus State defeated 13th seeded West Virginia State 4-0 on Wednesday.
 
The Sharks picked up the doubles point from the Hilltoppers (18-6), but it wasn't easy. HPU lost at No. 1 when SEU's Beth Hayward and Valentina Martinez stunned the Sharks 21st ranked duo of Elodie Busson and Elisa Elhadj 6-3. But Mihoki Miyahara and Sarah Ikioka claimed a hard fought win a No. 2 over Paola Carpio and Loli Perim 7-5, then Debora Echeverria and Heloise Le Normand came back at No. 3 to win 7-5 against Elisa Guillen and Laura Galvan for the point as the doubles took nearly an hour to complete.
 
The singles play took just a little longer before HPU wrapped up the match.
 
First Miyahara rolled through 74th ranked Martinez 6-1, 6-2 at No. 3 singles for the 2-0 lead. Then 34th ranked Busson took down Hayward 6-3, 6-3 at No. 1 for a 3-0 advantage. Le Normand won the match at No. 6 by dropping Guillen 6-4, 6-1.
 
Three other singles matches were left unfinished, with Echeverria up 6-4, 4-0 at No. 4 against Galvan, with Ikioka pulling through a tiebreaker to lead 7-6 (7-3) at No. 5 versus Carpio and Elhadj taking the first set at No. 2 against Kate Malazonia 7-5, but behind 1-3 in the second when action was halted.
 
The Sharks advance to their 12th NCAA II Quarterfinal appearance in the last 13 seasons.