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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, May 15, 2008

BYU-Hawaii women advance

Advertiser Staff

Top-ranked Brigham Young-Hawai'i, in quest of its eighth national championship in the last decade, swept 25th-ranked Drury (Mo.) yesterday in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division II National Championships at Houston. The Seasider women have won 88 straight.

BYUH (27-0) dropped just four games in capturing all three doubles matches. Freshman Elwen Li, No. 1 in the DII rankings, then swept 34th-ranked Laure Piqueman, 6-1, 6-0, in singles. Seulki Chin's 6-0, 6-0 blitz at No. 5 singles clinched the win over a Drury team making its third straight appearance in the Sweet 16.

On the other side of the bracket, Lauren Shin's victory at No. 6 singles clinched a 5-3 victory for 17th-ranked Hawai'i Pacific over 18th-ranked Northwood (Mich.). The Sea Warriors (22-7) dropped two of the three doubles matches before rallying for four straight singles victories.

Shin battled back after losing the first set, 6-1, winning the final two sets 6-2, 6-0. Senior Elena Hudzikova (No. 4), Anastasiya Ageychik (No. 3) and Tinka Mihova at (No. 5) all won in straight sets.

Hawai'i Pacific's 10th-ranked men swept into the quarterfinals with a 5-0 victory over Northwood (Mich). The Sea Warriors swept the doubles to go up 3-0, then clinched the match when Hendrik Bode beat Peter Kazianschuetz, 6-2, 6-0, at No. 1 singles and Daniel Luedi beat Bertrand Vigouroux, 6-3, 6-1, at No. 2 singles.

BLOCK PARTY ON SUNDAY

O'ahu will hold its annual Tennis Block Party Sunday, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park. The free event will be held in conjunction with the USTA Junior Team Tennis Spring Sectional Championships.

The afternoon will feature an introduction to QuickStart Tennis for those 10 and under, a Skills Challenge, beginner clinics for adults and teens, Cardio Tennis and Beat the Pro and Fast Serve contests.

Rackets and balls will be provided. For more information, call 955-6696 or visit hawaii.usta.com.

Kaua'i will have its Tennis Block Party May 31 at Kaua'i Community College (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Contact Carolyn Lum (808-651-8213) for information.

May is National Tennis Month, with more than 200 Block Parties held nationwide in the USTA's effort to increase tennis participation in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Martina Navratilova kicked off the celebration in New York City May 1.

The 11th year of Tennis Month comes as tennis participation exceeds 25 million for the first time since the 1990s. This year more than 200 "Tennis Block Parties" are scheduled across the country.

In other tennis news:

  • Leilani Magee defeated top-seeded Drajica Joksimovic, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3), to win the women's championship at the Kailua Racquet Club Grand Prix Sunday. Top-seeded Jan Tribler and second seeded Mikael Maatta will play for the men's title tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at the club. Tribler beat Corey Kincaid in one semifinal, 6-2, 6-4. Maatta overcame third-seeded Bradlee Lum-Tucker, 2-6, 6-2, 6-0.

  • The 19th annual Hawai'i Interline Tennis Society tournament will be Sept. 9 to 12 at Ala Moana Park. Mixed doubles will be played Tuesday and men's and women's doubles Wednesday. Finals are scheduled for Thursday and Friday is a makeup day. The tournament will again benefit American Cancer Society. For more information, contact cybersonny@aol.com.