After going 20 years without a team tennis title, the Konawaena girls will go for their second in a row Saturday at the Holua Tennis Center. The Wildcats are the odds on favorite to repeat as champions after finishing the regular season a perfect 12-0.
The Wildcats will open the semifinals with a match against against Hilo (8-3), who defeated Hawaii Preparatory Academy on Thursday.
To say that the success of Konawaena this year was expected would not be entirely true. There was quite a bit of change over from last year’s squad and head coach Debi Yamamoto has called the undefeated performance this year a, “pleasant surprise.”
The Wildcats have dominated the singles competition in 2016 behind Tayvia Yamagata and Rachai Kailiwai. Yamagata has only one loss, which came at the hands of the No. 2 tennis player in the state, Emily Soares of Hilo.
“Tayvia is only a sophomore and can play singles and doubles,” Yamamoto said. “She prefers the base line but has developed an all-around game.”
Yamamoto calls Kailiwai an “extreme athlete.”
“She played singles last year and has a lot of experience.”
In doubles, Konawaena is led by the Ekstrom sisters, Sarah Wagner and McKenna Ventura
Hayley Ekstrom and Kira Ekstrom, both seniors, have been playing for the Wildcats for a while, but this year marked the first time the two sisters have played on the same doubles team.
“They have always played with different partners and have come along way since their freshman years,” Yamamoto said. “They play a more complete game now and have a good dynamic together.”
The duo of Wagner and Ventura is also new. Wagner played with a different partner in 2015 and Ventura is only in her second year of tennis, with her primary sport being volleyball.
“The two compliment each other well,” Yamamoto said. “”McKenna is a good partner and is the hammer at the net.”
The other doubles team for Konawaena has been made up of a mix of players this year, with the duo of Krissy Kadooka and Ka’akea Glen-Baldado teaming up lately. Kadooka played last year and Glen-Baldado is in her first year with the team.
Filling out the rest of the Wildcat roster are Eva Bates, Tara Wooten and Leah Casas Wooten
If Konawaena gets past Hilo, they will play the winner of Kealakehe-Waiakea. The Waveriders (10-1) have been the second best team this season, with their only loss coming against Konawaena. Waiakea is 8-3 and defeated Makua Lani to reach the semifinals.
Kealakehe is led by April Wong, who has predominantly played out of the No. 1 singles slot all year, but can also play doubles. Michele Uyeda, a former BIIF champion, is also playing singles and doubles.
“They can switch around their lineup so it is really like a chess game between us and them,” Yamamoto said. “To prepare, the girls have been playing a lot of matches with adults the last couple of weeks. Adults have a lot of experience and are crafty and the girls seem to play more seriously when they play them.”
Waiakea is led by the doubles tandem of Kimberly Kamei and Niani Nishimoto.
BOYS
It’s a tight field on the boys side. Hilo ended the regular season with a 10-1 record. Hawaii Prep and Konawaena followed closely at 9-2 and Kohala reached the tournament at 8-3.
The deep Viking squad is led by their No. 1 singles player, Gil Assi.
“Hilo had the best record for a reason and its because have great players,” Konawaena head coach Richard Kahalioumi said. “They can move players around and Gil is a very good tennis player and a good athlete.
Hilo will take on Kohala in the semifinals, who upset Waiakea (9-2) in the first round. The Cowboys are led by Jamesen Keys, who Kahalioumi called a “phenomenal player.”
“Kohala has some talent and was kind of the sleeper team this season,” Kahalioumi said. “They also have a strong doubles team in Chance Souze and Michael Bartolome.”
Konawaena returned everyone from their squad last year and also added two new players, Peter Meise and Jake Unger, which made a big difference. Meise joined the team near midseason, which allowed the Wildcats to move Anakele Apisaloma to doubles. He has been playing with Brant Yamamoto in the No. 1 slot.
Pancho Shelton and Ryan Ogi also return, and are leading the team at singles.
“We have a lot of versatility this season,” Kahalioumi said. “We have the ability to put anyone anywhere and keep our opponents guessing.”
The Wildcats will play Hawaii Prep in the semifinals. Ka Makani beat Konawaena 3-2 during the regular season with the No. 1 doubles match going to three sets. Hawaii Prep is led by their No. 1 singles player Jakub Petras.
“HPA is a good squad and a strong team, like always,” Kahalioumi said. “I don’t know what the outcome will be but it will be a good match.”
The semifinal matches will begin at 10 a.m. The boys will start first, followed by the girls. After a short break the championship matches will take place.
