Top-seeded Kalei Gora of Saint Francis faces second-seeded Heidi Kaloi of Kamehameha today.
Top singles seeds
advance easily
After a marathon of matches, the last thing 11th-seeded Aaron Tada needed to see was a new-and-improved Mikey Lim.
Tada's amazing run in the Carlsmith Ball State Tennis Championships came to an abrupt halt at the hands of Lim at Central Oahu Regional Park. Top-seeded Lim, a junior from Punahou, ousted the Hilo junior 6-2, 6-1 and advanced into this morning's finals.
Lim used superior accuracy and a consistently wicked forehand to keep Tada running between the corners. Lim will meet the No. 8 seed, Word of Life's Daniel Llarenas, who topped Torin Ching of Iolani 6-4, 6-2.
All of Tada's matches went the maximum three sets, but the underdog prevailed each time. He went into the match with Lim recalling their last match two years ago on Maui. Tada came away from yesterday's match with a new perception.
"He hits it heavier. He used to hit it a lot more loopy," Tada said.
Lim saw a difference in Tada's game, too. "His game's changed a lot. He used to be a counter puncher," Lim said. "I wanted to run him from corner to corner, get the short ball and put him away."
It wasn't easy, however. Tada stayed with the taller 5-foot-11 Lim on several long rallies. "I was expecting to win a few more points off the serve," Lim admitted.
Lim's ability to concentrate has been vital. "I don't pay attention to seeds. I like to think everybody's equal. We've learned that through experience," he said. "Being a top seed, there's lots of pressure. Everyone treats you a lot different."
Punahou junior Mikey Lim, the top seed, faces Word of Life's Daniel Llarenas in today's boys singles final.
In girls singles semifinals, the top two seeds advanced with solid victories. Kalei Gora of Saint Francis, the No. 1 seed, handled Audra Takara of Mililani 6-0, 6-1. Second-seeded Heidi Kaloi of Kamehameha defeated Punahou's Sheena David 6-3, 6-1.
In doubles action, the top-seeded team of Brooke Doane and Lauren Shim of Kamehameha got past Erin Katayama and Sherilyn Wee of Punahou 6-2, 6-3.
"I think we're peaking at the right time," said Shin, a senior.
Doane is only a sophomore. "We've played together since we were kids," she said. Last year, the two placed second in the state championships.
"We've focused more, tried more shots. We think of angles, not just power," Doane added.
Moanalua's second-seeded duo of Julienne Yamamoto and Joelle Yamamoto advanced with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Lahainaluna's Christine Klein and Sarah Jo Peters.
In boys doubles, Leilehua's Andrew Murakami and Ryan Murakami, the second seeds, outlasted Kamehameha's Sean Tomas and Bryce Silva 7-6 (3), 6-0.
In the other semifinal, seventh-seeded Andrew Mau and Will Grosswendt of Punahou defeated Alex Latif and Kyle Barrett of Kula 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Mau and Grosswendt upset their top-seeded Buffanblu teammates Jon Wong and Eric Shono 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the quarterfinals yesterday.
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