[ HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS ]
Punahou close to title, but
Lim looking for more
The top four seeds on the girls side advanced into today's final rounds at the Carlsmith Ball/HHSAA State Tennis Championships at the Mauna Lani Racquet Club and Tennis Garden on the Big Island.
While the No. 1 seeds in the boys singles and doubles draws survived yesterday's round of 16 and quarterfinal matches, upsets included second-seeded Mark Ilagan of Farrington falling to No. 7 Holden Ching of Hawaii Prep in the quarterfinals and No. 3 Jordan Kukino of Kauai losing to No. 11 Keven Wong of Le Jardin 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the round of 16.
No. 1 Robbie Lim of Punahou, who is trying to become the first player to win three straight state championships since 1977, faces No. 5 Nainoa DePontes of Kealakehe in one semifinal this morning, while No. 6 Andy Narido of Hilo meets Ching.
No. 1 Kalei Gora of St. Francis faces No. 3 Chloe Bihag of Waipahu, while No. 2 Heidi Kaloi of Kamehameha meets No. 4 Jenna Mezin of Seabury Hall in the girls semifinals.
Punahou has virtually locked up both team championships, as the boys team has totaled 16 points, well ahead of a trio of teams tied for second with four points. The Buffanblu girls lead Iolani 11-8, but no Raiders advanced into today's semifinals. Kamehameha and Seabury Hall are tied for third with six points, but Punahou is guaranteed more points from today's all-Punahou doubles semifinal between No. 1 Erin Katayama/Julia Sandborn and No. 3 Jessica Broadfoot/Adriann Gin.
All singles and doubles semifinals start at 8 a.m., with finals following at 10 a.m.