HONOLULU - The University of Hawai'i women's tennis team opened the first day of competition at the Hawai'i Spring Invitational, Wednesday, at the UH Tennis Complex. Seven singles players and three doubles team represented UH in the tournament.

Rainbow Wahine sophomore Sophie Kobuch earned an impressive victory over Katie Rybakova of No. 19 Florida State, 6-4, 0-6, 6-1. Rybakova, Florida State's top player, is ranked No. 16 in the latest ITA Singles Rankings and has won seven of her last eight matches prior to facing Kobuch. Kobuch improved to 3-0 in dual matches on the season.

Sophomore Brittany Beswick dropped Kate Goff of Kansas, 7-5, 6-4. In doubles play, Kobuch and senior Chloe Bihag squeezed past Sacramento State's, Katrina Zheltova and Karina Jarlkaganova, 9-8(2). Freshmen Jennifer Goldman and Natasha Zorec beat Alabama's Meritt Emery and Alice Tunaru, 9-7.

The tournament includes players from Alabama, No. 19 Florida State, Kansas, No. 56 Sacramento State, and host UH and features both a singles and doubles individual format.

The three-day tournament continues Thursday, 4:00 p.m. and Friday, 11:00 a.m. at the UH Tennis Complex.

UH Results
Doubles
Dorn/Svistun (Kansas) def. Sandborn/Tanaka (UH), 8-0
Kobuch/Bihag (UH) def. Zheltova/Jarlkaganova (SAC), 9-8(2)
Goldman/Zorec (UH) def. Emery/Tunaru (Alabama), 9-7

Singles
Joyce Martinez (SAC) def. Jennifer Goldman (UH), 6-3, 6-2
Karina Jarlkaganova (SAC) def. Julia Sandborn (UH), 6-2, 6-0
Sophie Kobuch (UH) def. No. 16 Katie Rybakova (FSU), 6-4, 0-6, 6-1
Alice Tunaru (Alabama) def. Chloe Bihag (UH), 6-0, 1-6, 6-3
Paulina Bigos (Alabama) def. Natasha Zorec (UH), 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
Stephanie Smith (Kansas) def. Marie Tanaka (UH), 7-5, 7-5
Brittany Beswick (UH) def. Kate Goff (Kansas), 7-5, 6-4
Allison Nolen (Alabama) def. Brittany Beswick (UH), 6-3, 6-4

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