SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.—It has been over a month since the UH Hilo women's tennis team played a match, and it had been almost two months since Vulcan
Sandra Dafincescu had taken to the court for an official game.
Taking on No. 11 nationally ranked Academy of Art wasn't the best assignment after all that time away from the court, and the result was a 5-1 AAU win (the lone Vulcan point came via a forfeit at No. 6).
But Dafincescu came just two shots away from a win in her return to the court, and Anouk Van Houk went three sets with one of the top players in the country before falling. Dafincescu won the first set in a tiebreaker against Taisiia Andrieiva at No. 3 singles, dropped a close second set and then succumbed in a super tiebreaker third set—6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 11-9.
Van Houk, playing on court two against Alma Thell-Lenntorp, who was ranked No. 34 in the country in February's ITA listing, won the first set before falling in the next two—4-6, 6-1, 6-1.
UH Hilo lost three other matches in straight sets, and the doubles matches were not played because the team score was already clinched.
The Vulcans will get right back to action tomorrow, traveling to San Rafael to take on Dominican.
#11 Academy of Art 5, Hawai'i Hilo 1
3/20/2019 at San Francisco (Bay Club SF Tennis)
| Singles competition |
| 1. #46 Klara Thell-Lenntorp (AAU-WT) def. Marina Colvee (UHH-WT) 6-2, 6-2 |
| 2. Alma Thell-Lenntorp (AAU-WT) def. Anouk van Hoek (UHH-WT) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 |
| 3. Taisiia Andrieieva (AAU-WT) def. Sandra Dafincescu (UHH-WT) 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 11-9 |
| 4. Maria Andrisani (AAU-WT) def. Carmelle Joyner (UHH-WT) 6-2, 6-4 |
| 5. Sofia Ragona (AAU-WT) def. Hina Nishida (UHH-WT) 6-1, 6-1 |
| 6. Gabr Aguilar Lawlor (UHH-WT) def. No player (AAU-WT), by default |
| Match Notes |
| Hawai'i Hilo 2-4; Regional ranking #9 |
| Academy of Art 6-2; National ranking #5; Regional ranking #2 |
| Order of finish: Doubles (); Singles (6,5,4,1,2,3) |
| Official: Jim Oakes T-2:00 A-20 |
