Last weekend, the HPU men’s tennis team wrapped up the regular season in style with a commanding 6-1 victory over the University of Hawai‘i Hilo on the Big Island. It was a highly anticipated rematch following our home series the week before at Kailua Racquet Club, where we split results . Hilo took the first match and we bounced back the next day to even the score.
This time, Hilo had the advantage of home courts, but things didn’t quite go their way.
Our team flew to Hilo Friday evening to settle in and get proper rest ahead of the Saturday morning match. Fortunately, we lucked out with the weather — Hilo’s reputation for rain and unpredictable skies didn’t play a role this time, and conditions were ideal for match day.
We kicked off at 10 a.m. sharp, with both teams bringing intensity and energy. With a spot in the top 8 — and qualification for the PacWest Conference Championship — on the line, every point mattered.
We came out firing and clinched the doubles point thanks to an epic tiebreak win by Mile Matic and Finnegan Heber. Their composure and shot-making under pressure showed just how strong our team’s chemistry and mental toughness have become.
In singles, Mile continued his dominance and secured a quick win at the No. 2 spot, putting us up 2-0. His performance fueled the rest of us with extra confidence. Adam Vasir followed up with his 13th win of the season, and just moments later, Finnegan Heber sealed the overall team victory with a straight-sets win — HPU 4, Hilo 0.
But we didn’t stop there.
Arthur Perry pulled off a comeback in the second set to add a fifth point for the Sharks. Meanwhile, Jon Karlstaad showed incredible grit, battling through an ongoing ankle injury — a testament to his dedication and heart, regardless of the scoreline.
As for me, I was the last one on court, facing a top-50 player in the country. After splitting sets, I found myself up a break in the third and serving for the match. Unfortunately, I couldn’t close it out and ended up falling in a tight 7-6 third-set battle. Not the finish I was hoping for personally, but the team win made it all worth it.
With this result, HPU now sits in the top 5 of the PacWest standings and is headed to the conference championship in Arizona next Wednesday.
An incredible end to the regular season — and we’re just getting started.
Go Sharks!
