SAN DIEGO -- NAIA No. 6-ranked Point Loma Nazarene edged visiting Hawaii-Hilo in a non-conference match Thursday afternoon, 5-4. The match was preview to PLNU's future as the Sea Lions will move to the same conference that the Vulcans compete in – the PacWest – when the Green and Gold transitions to the NCAA DII starting this fall.

Knowing that PLNU plays UC San Diego on Friday and Westmont on Saturday, Coach Hills gave his top three singles players the day off against UHH. That decision almost came back to haunt Hills. The Sea Lions won two of the three doubles points but when singles began, it looked early on that UHH might have the upper hand.

“It was a little scary,” said Hills. “I thought we were in danger of losing the match, but our guys stepped up. I am really impressed with [Kaptan] Kaster, [Andrew] Combs and [Angel] Tavera. They saved us today.”

Winning their doubles matches were Gregory DeAndrade and Diego Tavera on court one, 8-6 with Kaster and Combs also pulling out an 8-6 win on three. Angel Tavera and KC Ensley lost by that same score on two.

Though Combs quickly took care of Kaito Mizutani 6-1, 6-1 on court three singles to give the Sea Lions a 3-1 lead the Vulcans posted wins on six and one to pull to within a point of PLNU. Kaster and Angel Tavera responded with wins on courts five and four respectively, to seal up the team victory for the Sea Lions. Kaster defeated Thomas Dols 7-5, 6-1 and Angel Tavera beat Kallen Mizuquchi 6-2, 6-4.

The last match was on court two between PLNU's Chad Rubin and Ryan Coffey of UHH. Rubin claimed the opening set 6-3 and fell in the second 7-6. Coffey then won the match with a 10-3 super tie-breaker triumph.

Point Loma improved to 11-7 on the year while the Vulcans were dropped to 3-11.

The Sea Lions host the aforementioned UC San Diego Tritons on Friday starting at 2:30 pm. NCAA DII No. 19 UCSD is 12-9 entering the match.

#6 Point Loma Nazarene 5, Hawaii-Hilo 4
04/12/12 at San Diego, CA (PLNU Tennis Courts)

Singles competition

1. QUIJANO, Carlos (UHH) def. ZABLAN, Michael (PLNU) 6-3, 6-3

2. COFFEY, Ryan (UHH) def. RUBIN, Chad (PLNU) 3-6, 7-6, 10-3

3. COMBS, Andrew (PLNU) def. MIZUTANI, Kaito (UHH) 6-2, 6-1

4. TAVERA, Angel (PLNU) def. MIZUQUCHI, Kallen (UHH) 6-2, 6-4

5. KASTER, Kaptan (PLNU) def. DOLS, Thomas (UHH) 7-5, 6-1

6. TAVARES, Matthew (UHH) def. LEHNERT, Elias (PLNU) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles competition

1. DE ANDRADE, Gregory/TAVERA, Diego (PLNU) def. COFFEY, Ryan/MIZUTANI, Kaito (UHH) 8-6

2. MIZUQUCHI, Kallen/QUIJANO, Carlos (UHH) def. TAVERA, Angel/ENSLEY, KC (PLNU) 8-6

3. COMBS, Andrew/KASTER, Kaptan (PLNU) def. DOLS, Thomas/GILLESPIE, Michael (UHH) 8-6

Match Notes

Hawaii-Hilo 3-11

Point Loma Nazarene 11-7; National ranking #6

PLNU Competes in the NAIA; UHH Competes in the NCAA DII

Generated on 4/12/2012