BYU-Hawaii inches by Lynn, faces Armstrong Atlantic in NCAA II title game

BYU-Hawaii beats Lynn, advances to title vs. Armstrong Atlantic

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL - The third-ranked Brigham Young University Hawaii women’s tennis team battled back from a 4-1 deficit, dehydration, illness and trips to the hospital for an amazing 5-4 win over fourth-ranked Lynn (FL) on Friday morning in the semifinals of the NCAA II National Championship Tournament.

In what BYU-Hawaii Head Coach Dave Porter termed “the guttiest performance I have ever seen,” the Seasiders advanced to the championship match for the 11th time in the past 12 years and avenged a loss to Lynn in last season’s NCAA II semifinals that ended BYU–Hawaii’s streak of 10 consecutive finals’ appearances.

The Seasiders began the match at a distinct disadvantage due to the absence from the doubles’ lineup of Ayako Ikeda, who normally plays number two doubles with Shawni Porter.

Ikeda was hospitalized overnight with dehydration and stomach flu symptoms after yesterday’s quarterfinal win and was not released from the hospital this morning in time for the start of the match.

BYU–Hawaii was required to move the number three doubles team of Jenny Chin and Salina Aranda to the second position and replace Ikeda with Theresa Holmes to play number three doubles with Porter.

Lynn won the first point of the match with an 8-2 victory at number two doubles, giving Chin and Aranda their first doubles loss of the season.

BYU–Hawaii bounced back with an 8-3 win by Yuan Jia and Elwen Li at number one singles, but Lynn took a 2-1 lead with an 8-4 win at number three doubles.

Ikeda arrived from the hospital in time to begin singles play at her regular spot at number three singles. Although she was only able to complete one set and was forced to retire after losing the set 6-2, her valiant effort allowed three other Seasiders to play at their normal four, five and six positions and was key to the BYU-Hawaii win.

Lynn picked up a second singles point at number four singles with a straight-set 6-0, 6-1 win for the 4-1 lead before the Seasiders battled back.

Li ignited the comeback when she completed a 6-3, 6-3 sweep at number two singles. Aranda then scored a 6-2, 7-5 win at the sixth position to draw the Seasiders within one before Jia tied the match at 4-4 with a tough, 7-5, 7-5 sweep at the top singles spot.

At number five singles, Chin battled to a 6-4 win in the opening set but then became a victim of the heat and humidity, experiencing severe leg cramps during the second set and dropping it 6-0. However, her opponent, Tessie Salame, was also being affected by the weather and requested a medical timeout before the third set.

The BYU–Hawaii staff worked feverishly on Chin during the delay, icing down her legs and rubbing them, and Chin was able to continue. Despite cramping continually during a grueling third set, Chin gutted out a 6-3 win to send the battered and weary Seasiders to tomorrow’s final.

BYU-Hawaii, now 32-0 for the season, will face top-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State, also 32-0, in Saturday's finale at 9 a.m. EDT in Altamonte Springs, FL.

Armstrong Atlantic State is the two-time defending NCAA II Champion.