KAILUA, Hawai'i – The No. 13 Hawai'i Pacific University women made it very clear where the power was at the top of Division II West Region, opening the season by thwarting No. 7 Azusa Pacific 6-1 on Friday in the Hawai'i Invitational at the Kailua Racquet Club.
 
The No. 13 Sharks (1-0) took the top two doubles sets on the way to the first point over the No. 7 Cougars (2-2) and claimed five of the six singles points in handing APU its first Division II loss of the season.
 
HPU's top double's pair of Marleen Tilgner and Shaline Pipa took down Madison Kane and Eleonora Liga 6-2 at No. 1, while Elodie Busson and Mihoki Miyahara beat Katherine Nguyen and April Wong 6-3 at No. 2. APU won at No. 3 doubles with Carolyn Brooner and Lilla Plasek downing Valentina Mokrova and Marta Ruszczynska 6-2.
 
The Cougars got their only point at No. 1 singles, with third ranked Liga beating Busson 7-6, 6-3. But HPU chalked up the rest, and all in two sets. Pipa beat 47th ranked Kane 6-2, 6-3 at No. 2, while Tilgner defeated Brooner 6-2, 6-2 at No. 3. Miyahara won at No. 4 over Wong 6-1, 6-3, with Mokrova taking No. 5 against Plasek 6-1, 6-3 and Ruszczynska beating Nguyen 6-3, 6-2 at No. 6.
 
The Sharks have just one match on Saturday, facing 24th ranked Biola at the Kailua Racquet Club. First serve is set for 9 a.m.