Spiker, Nakamura win OIA tennis crowns
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• Photo gallery: OIA tennis championships
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
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WAIPAHU — Jared Spiker and Kristen Nakamura offered a sneak peek into the future of University of Hawai'i and O'ahu Interscholastic Association tennis, respectively, capturing singles titles yesterday at the OIA Tennis Individual Championships.
Nakamura, a tiny 'Aiea junior, out-blasted Mililani senior Adrienne Hamada, 6-4, 4-6 and 10-6 in the super-tiebreaker, at Patsy T. Mink CORP Tennis Complex.
That ended 10 minutes after Kalani's Spiker, who will defend his state championship beginning May 6 on the Big Island, finally silenced Pearl City senior Jordan Lum, 6-3, 6-1. Last week, Spiker signed a letter of intent to play for the Rainbows, who are going after their third straight WAC title later this week.
"I talked with the (UH) players on the team and some former players and they said he (John Nelson) is a great coach," Spiker said. "I could tell from his credentials he's a great coach so I chose UH."
Spiker did not lose a game on his way to the OIA East championship and Lum was almost as flawless while winning the West. Yesterday's first set was separated by one break of serve, as Lum rushed the net and launched loud winners with the state champ with the exception of the fifth game.
"He was up 40-0 and I just told myself blast this one," Spiker recalled. "Since I was down zero-40 I could take a few risks, I got a few lines and next thing you know I had a break."
When that set was over, his coach advised him to take a breath because he "looked real tense." A relaxed Spiker sliced, diced and danced his way through the final set with his graceful game frustrating Lum and his "big, huge shots."
A year ago, Spiker became the first state tennis champion from Kalani in 26 years. It was the Spiker family's sixth state title, with brothers Jonathan (four) and Jason (one) capturing the others in wrestling.
Nakamura, who has never won a match at the state championships, will be looking to put 'Aiea on the winners' list in two weeks. She looked totally poised from the start yesterday, breaking Hamada in the opening game and never trailing in the first set.
Hamada lost to Nakamura in the OIA West championship, but upset OIA East champ Janelle Ng in this tournament. She was erratic yesterday and frustrated by Nakamura, but never stopped attacking.
Hamada broke serve early in the second set and was tenacious enough to serve it out, only to get down early again in the super-tiebreaker.
Nakamura was too steady to let her back in this time.
"I just wanted it so badly," Nakamura said. "I didn't want to let it slip away like I have before. I just told myself get it back, don't make stupid mistakes and make sure I started the point because that's the most important."
Mililani did win girls doubles, with Kimberly Takara and Melissa Monette defeating Leilehua's Beverly Cortez and Lindsay Michaelson, 6-2, 6-0. Kalani got a boys' sweep when Nicholas Lee and Cody Lau captured doubles, 6-0, 6-3, over Kaiser's Ken Covey and Brantly Yakabe.
OIA TENNIS INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Yesterday at Patsy T. Mink CORP Tennis Complex
Singles
Boys
Championship—Jared Spiker (Kalani) def. Jordan Lum (Pearl City) 6-3, 6-1. Third—Quoc Huynh (McKinley) def. Jose Reque (Mililani) 6-3, 3-6, 10-8.
Girls
Championship—Kristen Nakamura (Aiea) def. Adrienne Hamada (Mililani) 6-4, 4-6, 10-6. Third—Janelle Ng (Moanalua) def. Rachel Sugiyama (Kalani) 6-0, 0-6, 10-2.
Doubles
Boys
Championship—Nicholas Lee/Cody Lau (Kalani) def. Ken Covey/Brantly Yakabe (Kaiser) 6-0, 6-3. Third—Richard Pentecostes/Tyler Nichino (Waipahu) def. Kevin Maruyama/Jordan Darley (Pearl City) 2-6, 6-1, 10-8.
Girls
Championship—Kimberly Takara/Melissa Monette (Mililani) def. Beverly Cortez/Lindsay Michaelson (Leilehua) 6-2, 6-0. Third—Kelsey Kennell/Kaylee Yamamoto (Mililani) def. Lyndsey Watanabe/Renee Lum (Pearl City) 6-0, 6-4.