Tournament Bracket

LAS CRUCES, N.M.—The No. 61 University of Hawai'i women's tennis team (12-6, 3-1 WAC) stays on the road this week to play in the 2012 Western Athletic Conference Tournament hosted by New Mexico State in Las Cruces, N.M., April 26-28. The No. 2 seeded Hawai'i will battle No. 7 Nevada on Thursday at 12:00 p.m. (MT).
 
The Rainbow Wahine had one of its best regular seasons and earned a ranking for the first time in Hawai'i history. The 'Bows have won seven of their last eight matches—including sweeps over their final three opponents this year. Senior Barbara Pinterova leads UH into Reno playing at the No. 1 spot in both singles and doubles with partner Jamie Pawid. Pinterova started the season at the No. 3 position going 3-2 but since moving to the No. 1 slot, she has gone 10-4 including the last five out of six matches. In doubles, she and Pawid have been on a roll, winning their last four out of five matches.
 
Junior Katarina Poljakova is 12-7 overall but since moving from No. 1 to No. 2 in singles, she has won 10-out-of-13 matches—including her last six straight. In doubles she has made a similar change. Poljakova started the season at No. 1 with Pawid and was 3-6, but has managed to turn things around at the No. 2 position going 7-3 since partnering with sophomore Xenia Suworowa. Freshman Pawid has made an immediate impact on the team this season, going 15-6 overall and 12-3 in her last 15 matches—winning her last six in a row. Similarly, freshman Martina Kostalova has also been solid this season, with a 14-7 singles record—winning eight out of her last 10 matches at the No. 4 slot, including her last six straight. In doubles, she and partner senior Aglae Van den Bergh have a record of 9-5 at No. 3. Van den Bergh also has a 7-7 record in singles.
 
Sophomore Suworowa is 14-7 overall and 7-3 in her last 10 matches at the No. 5 position in the line-up and 7-3 in No. 2 doubles with Poljakova. Sophomore transfer Kelsey Daguio goes into the tournament with a 6-2 singles mark while freshman Rebecca Faltusz has posted a 3-2 mark in singles and a 3-0 record in doubles.
 
Nevada's team is a young squad comprised of four freshman, two sophomores and two juniors with no seniors. The Rainbow Wahine just swept the Wolf Pack this past weekend in Reno at the Caughlin Club on Sunday, April 22. Nevada is led by sophomore Michelle Okhremchuk who is quickly ascending the Pack's all-time singles record books with 41 wins—good for 10th all-time in their school history.
 
General Information
Location: NMSU Tennis Center (Las Cruces, N.M.)
Dates: April 26-29, 2012
Host: New Mexico State University
 
Match Times:
Thursday, April 26
Women's Quarterfinals
Match 1 - No. 1 Fresno State vs. No. 8 Louisiana Tech, 9 a.m.
Match 2 - No. 4 New Mexico State vs. No. 5 San Jose State, noon
Match 3 - No. 3 Idaho vs. No. 6 Utah State, 9 a.m.
Match 4 - No. 2 Hawai'i vs. No. 7 Nevada, noon

Friday, April 27
Women's Semifinals
Match 5 - Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2, 9 a.m.
Match 6 - Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4, noon

Saturday, April 28
Women's Championship
Match 7 - Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 6, 10 a.m.
 
Tickets: All-session tickets will be available from the New Mexico State Ticket Office beginning Wednesday, April 11. All-session ticket prices are: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for youth and students.

Single-session (one day) tickets will be available starting Wednesday, April 25.  Single-session ticket prices are: $5 for adults and $3 for seniors, youth and students.

To purchase tickets, call the NMSU Ticket Office at (575) 646-1420. Ticket office hours are: Monday to Friday – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and closed on Sunday.

Tickets will also be available at the New Mexico State Tennis Center beginning Thursday, April 26.