(photo by Christy Effendie)

IRVINE, Calif.-- The UH Hilo women's tennis team dropped a close 4-3 battle to Concordia University Irvine at the CUI Tennis Courts.

The Vulcans won the doubles point with quick wins on courts one and three, but the Eagles made up for the loss in the individual rounds taking four of the six matches. 

Hannah Highsmith had an efficient win on court six (6-1, 6-2) and Hikari Osaki had a clutch win over CUI's Alicia Da Re. Osaki and Da Re split sets and concluded the bout with a 10-point tiebreaker that went in Osaki's favor.

Despite the wins on courts five and six the Vulcans lost on courts one through four leaving Concordia victorious. 

Sandra Dafincescu had a close fight with CUI's Maya Arksey but was edged in the third set (6-2, 5-7, 6-4).

The Vulcans compete again tomorrow Friday, Mar. 17 against Point Loma at the PLNU Tennis Courts. 
 

Concordia University Irvine 4, Hawai'i Hilo 3
CUI Tennis Courts, Irvine, Calif.

Singles competition
1. Tiffany Carrillo (CUI) def. C. Alfonsin (UHH) 6-1, 6-2 
2. Maya Arksey (CUI) def. S. Dafincescu (UHH) 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 
3. Alyssa Zayat (CUI) def. J. Barden (UHH) 6-3, 6-1
4. Kimia Rahmani (CUI) def. N. Okamoto (UHH) 6-4, 6-2 
5. H. Osaki (UHH) def. Alicia Da Re (CUI) 7-5, 2-6, 10-1 
6. H. Highsmith (UHH) def. Jennifer Jolin (CUI) 6-1, 6-2 

Doubles competition
1. Okamoto/Barden (UHH) def. Carrillo/Zayat (CUI) 6-2 
2. Da Re/Rahmani (CUI) vs. Osaki/Ichikawa (UHH) UNF
3. Highsmith, Hannah/C. De Mattos (UHH) def. Jolin/Arksey (CUI) 6-2 

Records: Concordia University Irvine 7-6, Hawai'i Hilo 2-7