At this point, UH-Hilo’s men’s tennis team should probably start paying rent in Surprise, Ariz.
Though the ultimate goal is to own, of course.
Ownership of an NCAA Division II championship, that is.
A week unlike any other in the annals of the school’s athletic history begins Tuesday when the Vulcans meet Concordia College (N.Y) in the national quarterfinals. The Clippers (14-0) are one of three undefeated programs in the country, but a an unknown to the sixth-ranked Vulcans.
“I know they are going to be a solid team,” coach Kallen Mizuguchi said. “I think not knowing about a team is a good thing sometimes. Coaches and players often know a lot about the other team’s styles, but going in blind is kind of nice.”
On Wednesday, UHH’s softball team begins it regional against Western Washington in California, and a day later the Vuls’ baseball team begins play at the PacWest pod series in California.
Since landing in the Phoenix area May 4 for regionals, UHH men’s tennis claimed the West championship, practiced, studied for finals and, on Saturday, celebrated the graduation of Wu Chen-En and Santiago Di Loreto.
“They had a virtual graduation,” Mizuguchi said. “We got together and tried our best to give them something special.”
This is UHH’s third consecutive trip to nationals, with their best finish coming in a tie for third in 2019.
The Vuls-Clippers winner advanced to Wednesday’s semifinals to play either top-seeded Columbus State or Cameron.
“It’s been a long season for many of the players, but in a good way of course,” Mizuguchi said in a school release. “I am proud of the way our guys have overcome the challenges that they have faced this year. They are some of the toughest people that I have had the pleasure to work with.”
The Vulcans are led by Martin Soukal, who on court one is 8-3 in singles and 7-4 in doubles. He hasn’t dropped a match through the Pacific West Conference tournament – which also was held in Surprise – and the regionals. He is ranked No. 22 in the latest ITA national singles listing. Freshman Alessio Demichelis is 6-4 on court two, Luca Checchia is 7-1 playing on courts 3-4 and Joshua Liu also has a sterling record with a 7-2 marks on courts 5-6.
In doubles, UHH’s leaders are Wu who is 7-3 mostly on court three, and Santiago Di Loreto who has the same record at 1-2 doubles.
No. 22 Concordia is led by Tobias Lentz, who is ranked 27th in singles with a 10-1 record. He and doubles teammate Jonatan Lundahl are listed No. 15 on the ITA doubles list.
“Whatever the results may be, I am very proud of this team,” Mizuguchi added. “They give it their best every time.”
134-0 in th season
force tmr, i think sometomt not k owt is a god thing
coach and palyers know ghame soatlea, goigin bak,mnk in kind of nice
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May 4
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Ojn satiurtdyam all of the giuys ahasd rthbeiur final, alot of syaiyfgubg
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just practice, sgttsypiy and reganp
Chun,. santoago Dior,rei
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They ghad a vritrua grad
sat night ghad the team together felgteabntet the
try out r best to gibve rthenm somne
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they are exoreyted, at this opiint in the steat abnt erhtekevek
anythiug camn hapetn
going to go in an
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bveeb worse3,m un terms of heatlht
overcomeing alot of balstobae
over all, OK,
••
I know they they are goign to be solid team
134-0 in th season
force tmr, i think sometomt not k owt is a god thing
coach and palyers know ghame soatlea, goigin bak,mnk in kind of nice
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