Surprise, Ariz.--The UH Hilo women's tennis team placed eighth in the PacWest Championships after falling 4-2 to the Cal State LA Golden Eagles at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Club on Saturday.

The Vulcans had a tough match against Cal State LA, but overall had some exciting accomplishments throughout the PacWest Championships, including their first opening round victory since 2008 where they beat Dixie State 7-1.

During the match against Cal State LA, the Vulcans struggled to bounce back after losing the doubles point despite a courageous effort. Hikari Osaki and Akari Ichikawa won an exciting match on court three (7-5) and Nanami Okamoto and Julia Barden went the limit on court one before losing in a tiebreaker. 

The Golden Eagles rolled with their momentum adding the first singles point on court one to add to their score card (2-0).

Osaki answered back for the Vulcans with a 6-2, 6-4 fourth-court win, but a Golden Eagle win on the fifth court once again gave them the edge (3-1). Senior Hannah Highsmith put the Vulcans back in the contest, taking a 6-4, 6-1 victory on her court six (3-2). 

That left two courts in action with the Vulcans needing wins on both to steal the match. Not long after, the Golden Eagles clinched the win on the second court, ending the match and the season for the Vulcans. Senior Sandra Dafincescu dropped a tight match on court two in three sets in her final collegiate match, and Barden had split sets on court three when the final score was clinched.

Cal State LA 4, Hawai'i Hilo 2
Surprise Tennis & Racquet Club, Surprise, Ariz.

Singles competition
1. Sarah Olmos (CSLA) def. C. Alfonsin (UHH) 6-3, 6-1 
2. Noa Davico (CSLA) def. S. Dafincescu (UHH) 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-3 
3. Berta Acero (CSLA) vs. J. Barden (UHH) 5-7, 6-4, UNF.
4. H. Osaki (UHH) def. S. Kurokawa (CSLA) 6-2, 6-4
5. Chelsey Ruiz (CSLA) def. N. Okamoto (UHH) 6-3, 6-4
6. H. Highsmith (UHH) def. Savaughna Mayo (CSLA) 6-4, 6-1 
Order of Finish: 1-4-5-6-2

Doubles competition
1. Acero/Sarah Olmos (CSLA) def. Okamoto/Barden (UHH) 7-6 (7-3). 
2. Davico/Kurokawa (CSLA) def. Highsmith/C. De Mattos (UHH) 6-2
3. Osaki/A. Ichikawa (UHH) def. Courtlyn Lam/Mayo (CSLA), 7-5. 
Order of Finish: 2-3-1

Records: Cal State LA 8-10, Hawai'i Hilo 6-11