By BRIAN TYNES

News Editor

Tech's tennis team traveled to Hawaii last Thursday to compete for the Western Athletic Conference championship.

No. 8-seeded Tech was downed 4-1 in its first-round match with No. 9-seeded San Jose State and was knocked out of the tournament.

"We played against San Jose last year also," Tech head coach Terrence DeJongh said.

"They had pretty much the same team, but they had a new girl playing No. 1. She is very good and got all-conference award."

Tech's only point of the match came when senior Anabella Duque defeated Kathy Van 7-6, 6-1.

Sophomores Katie Westbrook and Monica Kelly were ahead in the third sets of their matches, but both were discontinued when San Jose won their fourth point as dictated by tournament rules.

"It comes down to doubles point," DeJongh said.

"It's only one point, but you get momentum going into singles."

DeJongh said the team was excited to play in the tournament, but a lack of familiarity with the teams set Tech back.

"The girls were pumped up to be playing the conference match," DeJongh said.

"It was a good match, and hopefully in the future we can play WAC opponents during the season to see where we stand. It's not required to play conference teams [in tennis], but hopefully that can change. That's why we're in a conference, so we can play conference matches."

San Jose lost in the second round to No. 1 seeded Rice 4-0, and Rice was beaten 4-0 in the championship match against No. 2 seeded Fresno State University.