KAILUA-KONA, Hawai`i--No. 4 nationally Hawai`i Pacific remained unbeaten on the year with a 7-2 win over Hawai`i Hilo on Monday afternoon at the Holua Tennis Center.

The Sharks are now 4-0 on the season, while the Vulcans fell to 2-2. But the win didn't come with complete ease for HPU, with the Vulcans winning two singles matches, pushing another deep into the third set and playing two doubles matches close.

UH Hilo's Sara Marin won a marathon battle at No. 4 singles, topping Barbora Kijasovva, 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 10-6, and freshman Carmelle Joyner won on court five over HPU's Heloise Le Normand, 6-4, 6-2. 

UHH's No. 2, Devanshi Bhimjiyani almost pulled off the upset of the day, coming within three points of No. 10 nationally ranked Lara Meccico, 6-1, 3-6, 10-7. Other close encounters included Marin and Irena Le dropping their No. 3 doubles match, 8-6, same for Joyner and Marina Colvee on court two, 8-5.

The Vulcans will now get some time off after playing four matches in five days, next hosting Bethel on the UH Hilo campus courts on March 9.

#4 Hawai`i Pacific 7, UH Hilo 2
Monday, Feb. 19, 2018, Holua Tennis Center, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Singles

1. #9 Lena Lutzeier (HPU) def. #38 Daniela Sanz (UHH), 6-1, 6-3. 
2. #10 Lara Meccico (HPU) def. Devanshi Bhimjivani (UHH), 6-1, 3-6, 10-7.
3. #21 Oceane Adam (HPU) def. Marina Colvee (UHH), 6-2, 6-1. 
4. Sara Marin (UHH) def. Barbora Kijasovva (HPU), 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 10-6.
5. Carmelle Joyner (UHH) def. Heloise Le Normand (HPU), 6-4, 6-2.
6. Debora Echeverria (HPU) def. Irena Le (UHH), 6-1, 6-0.

Doubles

1. Lutzeier\Adam (HPU) def. Sanz\Bhimjivani (UHH), 8-2.
2. Meccico\Kijasova (HPU) def. Colvee\Joyner (UHH), 8-5..
3. Le Normand\Leticia Gonzalez Dos Santos (HPU) def. Le\Marin (UHH), 8-6.

 
Season Records: UH Hilo 2-2, #4 Hawai`i Pacific 4-0