BYU-Hawaii blanks Abilene Christian

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Top-ranked BYU-Hawaii will battle No. 3 Armstrong Atlantic in the NCAA Division II National Championship match on Saturday in Louisville, Ky.

The Seasiders earned a berth in the finals after recording their third consecutive 5-0 shutout when they blanked No. 6 Abilene Christian on Friday morning, May 18, in the semifinals. 

BYU-Hawaii is now 29-0 after sweeping all three doubles matches and claiming wins at sixth and third singles.

Yuan Jia and Marietta Tuionetoa – the fifth-ranked doubles team in Division II – posted a pair of victories each in the win against Abilene Christian. The duo took second doubles 8-1 before Jia captured third singles 6-3, 6-3 and Tuionetoa swept sixth singles 6-3, 6-1.

BYU-Hawaii was leading three of the unfinished four singles matches 1-0 before play was halted when the Seasiders clinched the best-of-nine team victory with five wins.

I-Hsuan Annie Hwang and Shoazhuo Sherry Liu – the top-ranked doubles team in the nation – rolled to an 8-0 blanking at first doubles, while Marika Kobayashi and Tanja Rebholz claimed an 8-6 victory at third doubles.