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Punahou leads in boys and girls tennis


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POSTED: Friday, May 08, 2009

With two wins in singles and three in doubles, the Punahou girls took a commanding lead in the team standings after yesterday's round of 16 in the Carlsmith Ball/Hawaii High School Athletic Association State Tennis Championships at the Central Oahu Regional Park courts.

The Buffanblu, seeking their seventh consecutive championship, had 11 points going into today's quarterfinals. Hawaii Baptist, Kealakehe and Mililani shared second with four points.

The only upset in singles came when ninth-seeded Karlene Pang of Hawaii Baptist eliminated No. 8 seed Demetria Woods from Radford, 6-1, 7-5.

In doubles, unseeded Britney Ragunton/Sarah Steel of Punahou ousted Mililani's Melissa Monette/Kaylee Yamamoto, the No. 7 seed, 6-2, 7-6 (7).

In the boys competition, Punahou is being challenged by league rival 'Iolani, which has not won this event since 1971. The Buffanblu, winners of the last 18 titles, have a 12-11 lead in the team standings.

The biggest upset of the day was in an all-Punahou showdown, as Robin Kiyabu, seeded 10th, rallied past third-seeded Doug Ho, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

All eight of the top doubles seeds remain. The tournament continues through tomorrow.