It was the same opponent — Barry — and the same score — 5-1 — for the Hawaii Pacific men’s and women’s tennis teams in Friday’s semifinals of the NCAA Division II Championship in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
The outcome was also the same as it had been two months ago and some 235 miles southeast of the Sanlando Park courts. Back on March 22 in Miami Shores, Fla., HPU edged host Barry 5-4 in men’s play while losing 5-2 in women’s.
Friday, the second-ranked Sea Warriors men (23-0) remained undefeated with a 5-1 victory over the third-ranked Buccaneers, while the fifth-ranked Sea Warriors women (20-7) saw their season ended by the top-ranked Buccaneers, 5-1.
Saturday’s final is a battle of unbeatens. HPU, seeking its first national title, takes on top-ranked West Florida (28-0) at 7 a.m. Hawaii time. The Argonauts eliminated No. 5 Armstrong Atlantic 5-2. West Florida is seeking its third national title — its previous two (2004-05) also were at Sanlando Park.
"This was a new situation for all of them, but they stepped up to the occasion and showed why we have been so successful this season," third-year coach Hendrik Bode said.
The Sea Warriors took the lead for good with a 2-1 edge in doubles. In what was considered the featured match between the top two teams in the country, top-ranked Petr Michnev and Thibaud Berland easily defeated second-ranked Ollie Lemaitre-Ahmed Triki 8-3.
HPU gained separation with wins at Nos. 4 and 5 singles and clinched its finals berth with a 7-5, 6-1 win at No. 3 singles by Berland, the ITA Rookie of the Year. Although the match had already been called, Michnev, ranked second nationally at No. 1 singles, was impressive in his match with No. 7 Triki, winning the first-set tiebreaker 7-5 after being down 5-0.
"We’re very excited to get the chance to play in a national championship match tomorrow," Bode said. "I’m confident that our guys will bring everything they have again tomorrow to put themselves in the best situation to get a shot at another win."
In the women’s semifinal, Barry took a 2-1 lead after the doubles portion. HPU’s lone win came at No. 3 doubles. as Vivian Hansen and Lea Kruse-Utermann defeated Blanka Szavay/Karina Goia (BU) 8-4.
The Buccaneers (27-1) closed out the match with wins at Nos. 1, 2 and 5 singles. Barry plays for its second title in four years against Armstrong Atlantic (26-1).
NCAA D-II MEN’S SEMIFINAL
At Altamonte Springs, Fla.
No. 2 Hawaii Pacific 5, No. 3 Barry 1
Doubles
No. 1 Petr Michnev/Thibaud Berland (HPU) def. No. 2 Ollie Lemaitre/Ahmed Triki (BU), 8-3; Romain Costamagna/Leo Vivas (BU) def. No. 15 Jaume Martinez-Vich/Mattis Wetzel (HPU), 8-6; Yann Renault/Adriano Locorotondo (HPU) def. Renato Lombardi/Kevin Sielmann (BU). 8-4.
Singles
No. 7 Triki (BU) vs. No. 2 Michnev (HPU), 6-7 (5-7), 4-2, unfinished; No. 12 Fabian Groetsch (BU) vs. No. 15 Martinez-Vich (HPU), 2-6, 6-1, 1-0, unfinished; No. 35 Berland (HPU) def. Costamagna (BU), 7-5, 6-1; Wetzel (HPU) def. Nico Dreer (BU), 6-3, 6-4; Locorotondo (HPU def. Vivas (BU), 6-4, 6-1; Lombardi (BU) vs. Clemens Graute (HPU), 6-2, 5-4, unfinished.
Women’s semifinal
No. 1 Barry 5, No. 5 Hawaii Pacific 1
Doubles
No. 6 Kimmy Twelker/Anaeve Pain (BU) def. No. 21 Karen Ramirez/Celina Goetti (HPU), 8-4; No. 7 Emma Onila/Linda Fritschken (BU) def. Lorena Gheorghe/Magdalena Smejova (HPU), 8-3; Vivian Hansen/Lea Kruse-Utermann (HPU) def. Blanka Szavay/Karina Goia (BU), 8-4.
Singles
No. 7 Orila (BU) def. No. 21 Ramirez, 6-1, 6-0, ret; No. 9 Goia (BU) def. Goetti (HPU), 6-4, 6-2; No. 23 Fritschken (BU) vs. Smejova (HPU), 6-2, 2-2, unfinished; Pain (BU) vs. Gheorghe (HPU), 7-6 (7-1), 0-3, unfinished; Elizabeth Abanda (BU) def. Hansen (HPU), 6-4, 6-1; Twelker (BU) vs. Kruse-Utermann (HPU), 2-6, 6-0, 4-1, unfinished.
