SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--The Hawai`i Hilo women's tennis team came just one match short of pulling off an upset on Saturday afternoon, falling to Dixie State 5-4 at the Castellucci Tennis Center in northern California. 

The neutral site match went to the Trailblazers, who improved to 8-3 on the season. UH Hilo dropped to 3-10 in 2017. It was the first match of a 10-day swing of matches in northern and southern California for UH Hilo.

Daniela Sanz Caseli and Sara Valero were both double winners on the day. Sanz Caseli defeated No. 14 regionally ranked Lacey Hancock 7-6 (7-0), 6-4 at the No. 1 singles slot. She also teamed with Valero to win at number one doubles, topping Hancock and Laura Hartle, 8-6. Valero also cruised at the No. 2 singles spot over Maria Goldsmith, 6-0, 6-2. 

The Vulcans also won on court six in singles, with Shanise Kaaikala claiming victory 5-2 (ret.). At No. 3 singles, UHH's Kinsey Volkart came oh-so-close, falling to Dixie's Kyra Harames 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the only three-set match of the day. Volkart and Cheyenne Schula also lost a tight one at No. 2 singles, 8-5.

UH Hilo will return to the same courts on Saturday morning, taking on host Dominican. Start time is 9 a.m. PDT.

DIXIE STATE 5, UH HILO 4
Singles
1. Daniela Sanz Caseli (UHH) def. Lacey Hancock (DSU), 7-6 (7-0), 6-4.
2. Sara Valero (UHH) def. Maria Goldsmith (DSU), 6-0, 6-2.
3. Kyra Harames (DSU) def. Kinsey Volkart (UHH), 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
4. Laura Hartle (DSU) def. Cheyenne Schula (UHH), 6-3, 6-3.
5. Frances Goldsmith (DSU) def. Napapon Vorasane (UHH), 6-2, 6-1.
6. Shanise Kaaikala (UHH) def. Sydney Nichols (DSU), 5-2 (ret.).
Doubles
1. Sanz Caseli/Valero (UHH) def. Hancock/Hartle (DSU), 8-6.
2. Harames/F. Goldsmith (DSU) def. Volkart/Schula (UHH), 8-5.
3. M. Goldsmith/Nichols (DSU) def. Vorasane/Caralyn Fitzpatrick (UHH), 8-4.