Trojan Tennis Headed To State With Undefeated Season
By Jack Danilewicz
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May Ann Beamer has always focused on the development and long-term prospects of her players at Mililani,but she can risk a look at the standings once in a while.After all, her Trojan girls tennis team has won more than 150 matches dating back to the 2007 season versus OIA opponents.
The team goal is always to win, and the Trojans do it so often that their accomplishments can be almost unheralded because of high expectations.
The first key is a team’s ability to stay out of its own way. At Mililani, that means melding players who already have enjoyed success elsewhere.
“Although they are of All-Star quality, none is self-absorbed - it’s been all ‘team,’” said Beamer. “It will be sad to lose the seniors from this group. They’re not only quite scholarly, but they’ve bonded real well. They’re a great bunch that has helped each other out. They’re very enthusiastic girls.”
How significant is Mililani’s run of better-than-150 wins in a row in matches? The most notable prep win streak belongs to De La Salle of Concord, Calif., which won a national-best 151 football games in a row from 1998 to 2003. The Trojans have had three straight undefeated seasons, so they are halfway to matching De La Salle’s string of six in a row.
Familiar names led Mililani’s effort this season, highlighted by senior Adrienne Hamada. One of the Trojans’ top doubles players throughout high school, Hamada concentrated only on singles this season and won every match. Her next stop is the state tennis championships May 6-8 at Holua Tennis Center & Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort in Kona.
“I promised her that she would play singles her senior year,“Beamer said.“Last year, she played singles and won every match, and we put her in doubles at the state tournament. She’s a very, very aggressive player. She has very good top spin on her approach shots, and she has solid ground strokes. She has her favorite shots, but her net game prevails.”
Hamada, who will attend Whittier on a scholarship in the fall, made it to the semi-finals of the state tournament last year along with then-partner Kim Takara.
In doubles, the tandem of senior Melissa Monette and Takara, now a sophomore, has been the West’s best to date, winning both their OIA Division as well as the overall league crown. Takara was Hamada’s partner last year,but was matched with Monette after it was determined that Hamada would play only singles in 2010.
“We’re grooming Kim to be our No. 1 singles player (post-2010),most definitely,“Beamer said.“She’s very tall and fit and very good at listening. She has an overall solid game. She’s young - just a sophomore - but her potential is awesome.
“Melissa is very smart - a scholar athlete,” she added. “She has very powerful ground strokes.”
As a pair, they’ve seen their cohesiveness grow with each match.“Both are tall and have good size, and they’re in sync with one another,” Beamer added.“They’re very comfortable playing together. Melissa’s ground stroke game is really good, and it sets Kim up at the net.They cover each other and work well as a team.”
Kelsey Kennell and Kaylee Yamamoto form another solid doubles team for the Trojans and figure to be a tough out at the state tournament should they advance as their coach had projected.
“They’ll be a tough doubles team, too,” Beamer said. “They’re very good together. Kaylee is like 5-8, and so is Kelsey. If anything, they’re real good at the net. It’s hard to pass them.”
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