Punahou's Kawika Lam claimed his third straight singles title with a win over Hawaii Baptist's Jeffrey Liang. Brien Ing | SL

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Mid-Pacific's Skyla Alcon toppled defending state champion and top-seed Taylor Lau, 6-4, 6-3 to win the girls singles title. Brien Ing | SL

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WAIPIO — Mid-Pacific's Skyla Alcon and Punahou's Kawika Lam took home top honors in the Carlsmith Ball/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Tennis State Championships at Patsy T. Mink/Central Oahu Regional Park Saturday morning.

Alcon stunned Saint Francis' Taylor Lau, the defending girls' singles champion, 6-4 and 6-3 in the title match to win her first individual crown. She won the girls' doubles title with Cori Cummings in 2014.

"I'm just really thankful and blessed that I even had this opportunity," said Alcon. "I'm just ecstatic that I was able to pull it off."

The Mid-Pacific senior, who was seeded second in the tourney, avenged a loss to Lau in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu singles' final.

"She was way more prepared than me in that tournament," said Alcon. "I went home, did my homework and just fought to the best of my abilities. I had a set game plan and just picked on the things that she didn't like and capitalize with my game."

Lau held a 4-3 lead in the opening set before Alcon started to pick up steam. Alcon won the next eight games to take a decisive 5-0 lead in the second set.

"I just kept building point after point," she said. "Every time I go up one point, I think about how I can get to 30-love or 40-love. I just kept building and tried not to dwell on the mistakes."

But Lau would not go down without a fight. The defending champion picked up the pace and took the next game to get herself on the board. Alcon had a chance to end it in the following game, 40-15, but could not close the deal as Lau forced a deuce to stay alive.

To set up more drama, Alcon went down with a cramp in her right calve on the play that got Lau back into it. Lau won the next two games to help her stave off elimination, 5-3.

Even though momentum was on Lau's side, Alcon kept her cool and was able to fight through her injury to take the match.

"After the break I just tried to settle down and erase what happened in my mind and go from there," she said. "Before I got into this match I was told to breath in belief and exhale fears. I just let go of the three games that I lost and treated it as 0-0 again."

Lau, who defeated three-time singles champion Alyssa Tobita in the final last season, took the loss in stride and will try to reclaim the title as a junior next year.

"Even though you lose, it's important to think about what you gain and think about what you need to work on so that next year you can become a better person and tennis player," she said.

Lam defeated Hawaii Baptist's Jeffrey Liang, 7-5 and 6-3 in the boys' singles final to win his third straight individual title, his fourth overall. 

"I feel so relieved," he said after the match. "I was just nervous, yesterday and this morning. I dreamt about this match this morning and I lost in my dream. I somehow pulled it out."

The Punahou senior got close to reliving his dream when he trailed 5-4 in the opening set. Lam nearly dropped the next game, but battled through six deuces to pull even at five games apiece. 

"I was down 5-4 and was down a maybe about five set points, and I just ended up grinding it out," explained Lam. "I stayed strong and came back."

Lam, who will play for the University of Washington, was able to find his groove in the next couple of games to win the match.

"After I tied it up at five, I knew (Liang) was thinking about that missed opportunity," he said. "I took advantage of it and played two good games to take the set."

Punahou's Katreina Corpuz and Alyssia Fossorier defeated Kamehameha-Maui's Sarah Ikioka and Kylee Kato 6-1 and 6-0 in the girls' double final. Iolani's Jordan Azuma and Phic Hyunh defeated Punahou's Austin Yamamoto and Travis Lau 7-6 (7) and 6-4 to take the boys' doubles crown.

FINAL DAY RESULTS

Championships - Boys Singles
[1] Kawika Lam (Punahou) def. [2] Jeffrey Liang (Hawaii Baptist) 7-5, 6-3

Championships - Girls Singles
[2] Skyla Alcon (Mid-Pacific) def. [1] Taylor Lau (St. Francis) 6-4, 6-3

Championships - Boys Doubles
[1] Jordan Azuma/Phuc Hyunh (Iolani) def. [2] Austin Hamamoto/Travis Lau (Punahou) 7-6 (7), 6-4

Championships - Girls Doubles
[2] Katreina Corpuz/Alyssia Fossorier (Punahou) def. [1] Sarah Ikioka/Kylee Kato (Kamehameha Schools Maui) 6-1, 6-0

Third Place - Boys Singles
[3] McKenna Fujitani (Punahou) def. [6] Junichi Minakata (Hawaii Prep) 6-4, 1-6, 6-2

Third Place - Girls Singles
[3] Emily Soares (Hilo) def. [4] Ashley Ishimura (Punahou) 6-3, 1-6, 6-4

Third Place - Boys Doubles
[3] Jace Akagi-Okuma/Davin Lee (Mililani) def. [4] Kyle Motoshige/Michael Chen (Punahou) 6-3, 6-1

Third Place - Girls Doubles
[4] Laura Okazaki/Chloe Miwa (Iolani) def. [3] Haley Fujimori/Alysse Nakasato (Mililani) 6-4, 6-0