SEVEN TENNIS SAMOA JUNIOR TENNIS PLAYERS QUALIFY FOR PACIFIC OCEANIA JUNIOR TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS IN FIJI

Tennis Samoa Junior program has again achieved one of its goal for 2016 of obtaining at least 6 Samoa Junior tennis qualifiers for the Pacific Oceania Junior Championships (POJC) to Lautoka, Fiji from the 15 – 24 August 2016. The qualifiers are: 

i. Corey Duseigneur and Rafael Tapusoa 

(Boys 12 & Under age group)

ii. Penina Kamu and Maria Kerslake 

(Girls 12 & Under age group)

iii. Eleanor Schuster 

(Girls 14 & Under age group)

iv. Kristen Pavitt 

(Boys 16 & Under age group)

v. Maanaima Nielsen 

(Girls 16 & Under age group)

The Tennis Samoa Junior players had to fight off strong challenges from American Samoa, Tahiti and Tongan junior players during the East Pacific Junior Tennis Qualifications (EPQ) in Apia from 8 – 13 August 2016. 

The Samoan junior players went one better when 3rd seed Penina Kamu upset 1st seed Kira Fong Loi from Tahiti 6-3, 6-4 and 2nd seed Eleanor Schuster defeated 1st seed Lea Lamorelle from Tahiti 6-0, 6-2 in the finals on Saturday. 

Corey Duseigneur and Maria Kerslake earned spots by qualifying 4th overall in their respective age groups. 

Rafael Tapusoa received a wild card for coming 5th overall, Kristen Pavitt and Maanaima Nielsen received wild cards for their respective 16 & Under age groups.

Despite these results, the 7 Samoa Junior tennis reps are currently stepping up another notch in the POJC and pitch their skills and fitness in Lautoka, Fiji since Sunday 14th of August until this Wednesday, 23th of August against the best junior players from the Pacific like Tonga, Tahiti, American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, Federated States Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Norfolk Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. 

Tennis Samoa President Raymond Schuster says: “The POJC is the ultimate Pacific Oceania Junior tournament for Pacific Island junior tennis players. 

The junior players that make it to the finals in POJC will be eligible to be invited to join the Pacific Oceania Junior Tennis Team to compete in international junior tennis competitions in countries like Australia and New Zealand. 

This exposure will increase the likelihood of sports and academic scholarships for any of our junior players that make it and stand out in that level.”

Tennis Samoa acknowledges the financial assistance from the Prime Minister and Government of Samoa as well as all the sponsors that enabled the running of the EPQ in Apia: 

1. International and Oceania Tennis Federations

2. TAB

3. BSL

4. NBS

5. Samoa Beverages – Powerade

6. Papalii Jack and Julie Tuala and South Pacific Waters

7. SSAB

8. Western Union

9. Polynesian Airlines

10. A Touch of Samoa Spa

11. King Construction

12. All Tennis Samoa Membership Family supporters

13. Graig Construction

14. Hyundai

15. Indoors

16. Le Well

17. Eveni Sports

18. Polynesian Airlines

19. Digicel Samoa

20. Parts Right

21. Tevita Family

22. Siva Afi