Punahou sweeps state tennis team titles


Punahou claimed both boys and girls team titles at the Carlsmith Ball/HHSAA State Tennis Championships at the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii Tennis Center and Mauna Lani Bay Hotel Fitness Club.

Iolani's Phuc Hyunh won the boys singles title with a 6-4, 6-4 win over top-seeded Andre Ilagan of Farrington, and Saint Francis' Taylor Lau claimed her second girls singles title with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Alyssia Fossorier of Punahou.

In doubles play, Mid-Pacific's Reyn Miyagawa and Seann Esaki took down the top-seeded pair of Austin Hamamoto and Hia Lam of Punahou in three sets, 5-7, 6-4, and 6-2 in the boys doubles final, and Kamehameha-Maui's Sarah Ikioka and Kylee Kato took care of Konawaena's Rashai Kailiwai and Tayvia Yamagata, 6-2, 6-2 to win the girls final.

The Buffanblu boys claimed their 26th straight team title, but it certainly was a close call. Punahou's 15-point team total was just one point better than second-place Mid-Pacific and Iolani finshed just two behind with 13. 

Final standings in the girls draw was not quite as tight, with Punahou (19) placing nine points ahead of second place Iolani (10). Kamehameha-Maui finished in third with 9 points. The team title was the Buffanblu's 16th straight.