Emily Soares had a quick workout day on Saturday at the tennis courts sitting on Hilo Intermediate’s expansive grass fields.
The Hilo senior blitzed Hawaii Prep junior Carol Zhen 6-0, 6-0 in a BIIF match that didn’t take very long, lasting less than an hour.
That was probably to be expected because Soares is a two-time BIIF individual champion (2013 and ’15) and a doubles champ in 2014 with sister Kelly Soares.
Last season, Soares finished third at the HHSAA state championships, falling to Saint Francis’ Taylor Lau in the semifinals, 6-0, 6-1.
Mid-Pacific’s Skyla Alcon beat Lau for the state title, 6-4, 6-3.
Alcon is playing at Cal State Northridge or CSUN as the school prefers to be called.
Alcon is gone, but Lau is back.
In the USTA Hawaii Pacific girls 18 ranking, Soares is No. 2.
Guess who’s No. 1?
That’s right, it’s Lau, who’s a junior and pulled off an incredible feat in 2014 as a freshman.
Back then, Lau upset Mililani’s defensive-minded Alyssa Tobita, who’s playing ball as an Oregon Duck, for the state title, stopping her bid to become a four-time champ.
Soares will be the favorite to capture her third BIIF title. Then she’ll likely be in a bracket opposite of Lau, the tennis people’s choice to seize another state crown.
The last BIIF girls player to pocket a state title was Kealakehe’s Saya Tsukamoto in 2010, also a four-time BIIF champion.
The tennis accomplishments (HHSAA state, summer circuit or otherwise) are small potatoes for Soares, who owns something far bigger.
On March 25, the U.S. Tennis Association named Soares to the first-ever USTA Junior Leadership Team, which recognizes leadership, sportsmanship and character on and off the court.
Basically, she’s a U.S. junior champion of character.
Soares’ quote on the usta.com website perfectly summed up her mindset how an individual and team sport blend together.
“I love how tennis is an individual sport, so I’m responsible for the outcome. If something doesn’t go the way I want it to, it’s up to me to work harder and keep persevering,” Soares said. “I also love how tennis can also be a team sport. It makes me want to win and try even harder because I’m doing it for a team. It’s fun because people are supporting me and cheering me on, and I love doing that back to my team, as well.
“Tennis is a difficult sport to play because the players have to be their own referees, and it’s tough, physically and mentally. It’s a great challenge every time I step on the court, which is what I love.”
Soares is still searching for a college home, a reason HPA’s No. 1 singles player, Jordan Virtue, was nowhere to be seen.
Virtue was on the mainland touring colleges. She’s already gained entry into Harvard, which accepts the elite in academics, character, community service, and, no pun intended, virtue.
“She’s a solid all-around player and a good leader, mostly,” HPA coach Jeff Lewis said. “She’s a better captain and leads well. She brings the team together. She’ll talk to anyone and not separate herself from any group. That’s something you appreciate in a captain.”
Lewis, of course, was talking about his senior, Jordan Virtue, but he could have been speaking about Emily Soares as well.
The first round of the BIIF team championships start Wednesday. The championships are Saturday at Holua.
HPA is the three-time defending boys BIIF champion while Konawaena won its first BIIF title in 20 years last season, after topping HPA. (The Hilo girls last won the BIIF title in 2013.)
The BIIF individual championships start Thursday, April 21 at Mauna Lani.
