Sophomores Phuc Huynh and Katreina Corpuz turned up the volume to capture singles titles Wednesday at the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Tennis Championships.
Huynh, who won a state doubles title last year for ‘Iolani, was practically perfect in a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Punahou’s second-seeded McKenna Fujitani. Hitting loud and precisely-placed ground strokes, the top seed needed a little more than an hour to win.
Corpuz hit just as hard — and loud — but took 2 1/2 hours to subdue top-seeded Taylor Lau, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. It finished just as the lights came on at the Patsy T. Mink CORP Tennis Complex, and it wasn’t the last match to end.
“It was the most fun match I’ve played,” said Corpuz, whose cousin Allisen is a Punahou senior and one of the state’s elite golfers. “It was so intense.”
Corpuz won a state doubles title with Punahou teammate Alyssia Fossorier last year as a freshman.
Lau, a St. Francis junior, won the state singles championship as a freshman and fell in last year’s singles final to Mid-Pacific’s Skyla Alcon, after capturing the ILH championship.
Corpuz prevented a sequel in a tense match that was dead even after 2 hours.
She broke Lau’s serve in the opening game and never trailed in the first set, which lasted 56 minutes. Their baseline rallies sometimes lasted 20-plus strokes, with lines hit on more than a few shots. The eighth game was crucial, with Corpuz overcoming multiple break points and three double faults.
Lau overcame all that in the second set, winning the last three games with her high, deep topspin groundstrokes and just enough serving.
When they took a break before the final set, first-year Punahou girls coach Betsy (Somerville) Purpura — who won all three state championships she played in the mid-1980s — told Corpuz to “be more mindful” of her footwork and the depth of her shots.
“And taking opportunities when they come to me,” Corpuz added. “Making things happen, but not overkill.”
She kept blasting, but picked her spots for winners in the final set, taking the first three games and giving up just two points. She went back to staying on the baseline and bashing Lau’s topspin shots before the ball had a chance to bounce too high.
They traded service breaks to 4-2, then Corpuz made her last surge, breaking Lau’s serve at love and blasting three aces to get to match point. A nervous double fault followed, but she crushed another first serve and got a return into the net to win it.
Fujitani broke Huynh’s serve to tie their first set at 4-all, then won the first two points of the next game. Huynh stopped the run and won the last two games to take the opening set. He won the final six games to take the title.
“After he won the first game of the second set, I slowed down a little and played to my rhythm,” Huynh said. “I guess he kinda broke down and was going for whatever shots. I was able pull it through. I’m pretty happy about the win.”
He and his teammates were also happy about winning the ILH regular season over a Punahou team that has won the last 25 boys state championships. ‘Iolani last won a state boys title in 1971.
“My goal first of all is to try and win a state singles title and hopefully help my team, with a few others pitching in, to win a state title for ‘Iolani,” Huynh said “It’s been I don’t know how many years. This season we were fortunate enough to win the ILH and it’s been like 32 years since we have won that so it was really big.
“Our team has really good chemistry. Everyone gets along and everyone helps boost our playing level.”
The top seven ILH finishers qualified for the Carlsmith Ball State Championships, May 5-7 at Mauna Lani.