WAIKOLOA, Hawai'i - A spirited showing by sophomore Kana Aikawa was not enough, as the Hawai'i women's tennis team suffered a 7-0 defeat to defending national champion Stanford, Tuesday at the Hilton Waikoloa Resort. The setback in the Rainbow Wahine's first dual-match of the season gives Hawai'i a record of 0-1 heading into the winter break.

Aikawa was the lone Rainbow Wahine able to push her match to three sets before falling to Stanford’s Joanna Kao, 10-5 in a super-tiebreaker. Hawai‘i found themselves unable to overcome the talent on Stanford’s side of the net, including defending national champion Amber Liu, who defeated Hawai‘i’s Lauren Fitzgerald 6-1, 6-3.

“Kana performed very well,” head coach Carolyn Takeyama said. “Last year, she took two matches from Stanford, and nearly won this match. But [Stanford’s] two freshmen [Whitney Deason and Lejla Hodzic] were really impressive. I think they’re in contention for another title.”

Hawai‘i will have a chance to regroup during the month of December before competing again, facing off against Illinois on January 16, 2005 at the UH Tennis Complex.

Match Results
Stanford def. Hawai`i, 7-0
Singles
1. Amber Liu (STAN) def. Lauren Fitzgerald, 6-1, 6-3
2. Alice Barnes (STAN) def. Sylvia Jaros, 6-1, 6-3
3. Theresa Logar (STAN) def. Justine Boutet, 6-0, 6-1
4. Whitney Deasen (STAN) def. Paige Mainor, 6-0, 6-2
5. Lejla Hodzic (STAN) def. Kimberly Curtis, 6-1, 6-1
6. Joanna Kao (STAN) def. Kana Aikawa, 6-4, 3-6, (10-5)

Doubles
1. Liu/Barnes (STAN) def. Fitzgerald/Mainor, 8-2
2. Deasen/Hodzic (STAN) def. Curtis/Chloe Bihag, 8-0
3. Kao/Logar (STAN) def. Jaros/Samanta Capella, 8-3

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