KAILUA, Hawai`i—UH Hilo picked up singles wins on courts five and six but No. 8 nationally ranked Hawai`i Pacific won the rest of the action as the Sharks topped the Vulcans 5-2 on Tuesday afternoon at the Kailua Racquet Club.

HPU, who just competed at the ITA Indoor National Championships in Oklahoma, and then played three matches in Florida, improved to 9-5 on the season (all of their losses are to nationally ranked teams). The Vulcans are now 2-5.

The Sharks defeated the Vulcans in February, 4-0.

Pocketing wins for the Vulcans were Gabriela Aguilar Lawlor and Irena Le. Aguilar Lawlor won out over Jayme Waites at No. 5, 6-3, 6-4, while Le won on court six over Bianca Schulhof, 6-4, 6-2. Carmelle Joyner went three long sets with Nicole Ballach before Ballach prevailed 10-4 in the third set, and Dafincescu played two very tight sets at No. 2 with Mihoki Miyahara before the Shark rallied for the win, 6-4, 7-5.

HPU won the first two matches in doubles, while Dafincescu and Aguilar Lawlor were down just a game at 5-4 when the team point clinched.

The Vulcans will get right back to action on Wednesday morning, taking on Dominican at the Diamond Head Tennis Center. Start time is 10 a.m.

#8 Hawai`i Pacific 5, Hawai`i Hilo 2
Kailua Racquet Club, Kailua, Hawai`i
SINGLES
1. Marlene Tilgner (HPU) def. Marina Colvee (UHH), 6-0, 3-0, Retired.
2. Mihoki Miyahara (HPU) def. Sandra Dafincescu (UHH), 6-4, 7-5.
3. Sarah Ikioka (HPU) def. Anouk Van Hoek (UHH), 6-1, 6-2.
4. Nicole Ballach (HPU) def. Carmelle Joyner (UHH), 3-6, 6-2, 10-4.
5. Gabriela Aguilar Lawlor (UHH) def. Jayme Waites (HPU), 6-3, 6-4.
6. Irena Le (UHH) def. Bianca Schulhof (HPU), 6-4, 6-2.
Order of Finish: 1-3-6-5-2-4
DOUBLES
1. Tilgner/Miyahara (HPU) def. Van Hoek/Joyner (UHH), 6-3.
2. Ikioka/Ballach (HPU) def. Colvee/Le (UHH), 6-1.
3. Schulhof/Monica Greene (HPU) vs. Dafincescu/Aguilar Lawlor (UHH), 5-4, UNF.
Order of Finish: 2-1.
 
TEAM RECORDS
UH Hilo 2-5, #8 Hawai`i Pacific 9-5