LAHAINA — Kayleen Lau and Kaelyn Kato stepped onto the Lahaina Civic Center courts Thursday ready to defend their Maui Interscholastic League title.

Under the hot sun, the dynamic duo from Kamehameha Schools Maui got off to a dominating start to the MIL individual championships, breezing to a 6-0, 6-0 win over Baldwin’s Kazzandra Anton and Emi Sakumoto in the second round.

“I think we got all of our nerves out because we went into it super nervous,” Kato said. “We always push each other to do our best.”

The pair, who routinely don’t play together during the regular season, received a bye through the first round as the top seed in girls doubles.

“We work together really well,” the players said together after their doubles match.

They are set to take on Maui High’s Jenna Payba and Erica Gumboc of Maui High in today’s quarterfinals. Payba and Gumboc advanced with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Seabury Hall’s Erin Tanaka and Elena Hickey.

“We’re just taking it one game at a time,” Lau added. “When one goes down, the other pulls them up. We just have a really good dynamic.”

Things went mostly as expected on Day 1 of the MIL tournament, with no major upsets.

In the girls singles division, a couple of players have their eyes on gold.

Kihei Charter’s Jessalyn Lopez, a two-time defending MIL champion, said her opening day went well — she earned 6-0, 6-0 wins over the Spartans’ Julia Chou in the first round and Taryn Cabingas of Lahainaluna in the second.

“I just stay relaxed and try to get all the balls back and try to play steady,” Lopez said. “I just try to play steady and not be too aggressive.”

While the first couple rounds were a sweep for Lopez, Seabury freshman Nikki Fernando appears to be the Tiger Sharks junior’s biggest threat to a three-peat.

During the regular season, the two played a pair of tough matches, both won by Lopez.

On Thursday, the second-seeded Fernando defeated the Warriors’ Jayda Lum Lung 6-0, 6-0 and Baldwin’s Alysa Razo 6-0, 6-1.

“She’s definitely a really good competitor, it’s going to be really tough,” Lopez said. “It’s good playing against her (during the season) because she makes me work harder, like, because it’s so close.”

In boys singles, Hobbes Wilstead of Kihei Charter returns to defend his MIL crown.

After a first-round bye, Wilstead captured a quick 6-0, 6-0 win over Alejandro Prieto of Maui Prep.

Second-seeded Quinn Shapiro, Wilstead’s teammate, also did not drop a game in a win over Jalen Kalama of Molokai.

“Everything is going pretty smoothly today,” Tiger Sharks coach Ian Cohen said.

In boys doubles, Seabury’s Zack Walker is going for his third MIL doubles title.

Each year, Walker has played with a different teammate — Corrado Rusnak in 2017, Miles Stone last season and Sterling Sandler this year as Stone plays in the singles draw.

“This is actually my first time playing with him,” Sandler said. “But it’s been good.”

To get Walker’s trifecta, the Spartans will likely have to take down the Tiger Sharks’ No. 1-seeded team of Devon Baldwin and Zack Fernando, who earned wins over Walker and Stone during the season.

“We haven’t beat them yet this year and we’re hoping maybe we can change things up,” Walker said. “It’s going to be a tough match for sure.”

* Dakota Grossman is at dgrossman@mauinews.com.

MIL Championships

Thursday’s Results

At Lahaina Civic Center courts

Boys Singles

First Round

Alejandro Prieto, Maui Prep, def. Ansel Newman, King Kekaulike, default.

Kahiau Snyder, St. Anthony, def. Daylen Casino, Molokai 3-6, 6-2, 10-6.

Gage Bailey, King Kekaulike, def. Clarence Lubaton, Maui High 6-1, 6-0.

Makani Smith-Kemfort, Kamehameha Maui, def. Jacob Lebseigne, Lanai 6-0, 6-0.

Alexander Smith, Hana, def. Jacob Jerome, Maui Prep 6-0, 6-0.

Alex Rodriguez-Gomez, Lahainaluna, def. Brendan Keanini, Molokai 6-1, 6-0.

Kazu Iinuma-Nakaaki, Seabury Hall, def. Makana Boote, Maui Prep, score not reported

Josh Foley, Seabury Hall, def. Dylan Lopez, Lahainaluna 6-0, 6-0.

Jalen Kalama, Molokai, def. Tristan Salcedo, King Kekaulike, default.

Round of 16

(1) Hobbes Wilstead, Kihei Charter, def. Alejandro Prieto, Maui Prep 6-0, 6-0.

Evan Lipetz, Seabury Hall, def. Kahiau Snyder, St. Anthony 6-1, 6-1.

(3) Miles Stone, Seabury Hall, def. Gage Bailey, King Kekaulike 6-0, 6-0.

Alexander Smith, Hana, def. Makani Smith-Kemfort, Kamehameha Maui 6-4, 6-2.

Jaxon Chester, King Kekaulike, def. Alex Rodriguez-Gomez, Lahainaluna 6-2, 6-1.

(4) Aden Kinoshita, Baldwin, def. Kazu Iinuma-Nakaaki, Seabury Hall 6-0, 6-0.

Josh Foley, Seabury Hall, def. Noah Schwartzlow, Maui Prep 6-3, 6-2.

(2) Quinn Shapiro, Kihei Charter, def. Jalen Kalama, Molokai 6-0, 6-0.

Girls singles

Play-in

Jayda Lum Lung, Kamehameha Maui, def. Kuulei DeCosta Parks, Molokai 7-5, 6-1.

First Round

(1) Jessalyn Lopez, Kihei Charter, def. Julia Chou, Seabury Hall 6-0, 6-0.

Taryn Cabingas, Lahainaluna, def. Zhenni He, Baldwin 6-2, 4-6, 10-6.

Hana Yoshikawa, Maui High, def. Samantha Scheidler, King Kekaulike, default.

Madison Perry, Maui Prep, def. Aaliyah Cariaga, Molokai 6-3, 5-7, 10-2.

(4) Hoohieokala Luna-Beamer, Maui High, def. Aurora Middleton, King Kekaulike 6-0, 6-1.

Ariana Rios, Kamehameha Maui, def. Tina Abrew, St. Anthony 6-1, 6-0.

Kiyo Christopher, Kihei Charter, def. Ariana Pacleb, Lahainaluna 6-0, 6-1.

Cristal Pak, Baldwin, def. Skylar Kuahuia, Molokai 6-1, 7-6 (5).

Natalie Smart, Maui Prep, def. Meilani Kong, Maui High 6-2, 7-6 (2).

Kahealani Garcia, Lahainaluna, def. Victoria Teoh, Baldwin 7-6 (5), 2-6, 12-10.

Carine Bleasdell, Kihei Charter, def. Aleth Sabugo, King Kekaulike 6-3, 6-3.

(3) Kaitlyn Ralar, Kamehameha Maui, def. Kawena Fujieda, St. Anthony 6-0, 6-0.

Ziri Lapus, Lahainaluna, def. Liv Rudat, Maui Prep, default.

Yoana Gkatsu, King Kekaulike, def. Chloe James, Kihei Charter 6-0, 6-0.

Alysa Razo, Baldwin, def. Arabella Lamello, Lanai 6-0, 6-3.

(2) Nikki Fernando, Seabury Hall, def. Jayda Lum Lung, Kamehameha Maui 6-0, 6-0.

Round of 16

(1) Jessalyn Lopez, Kihei Charter, def. Taryn Cabingas, Lahainaluna 6-0, 6-0.

Hana Yoshikawa, Maui High, def. Madison Perry, Maui Prep 6-0, 6-0.

(4) Hoohieokala Luna-Beamer, Maui High, def. Ariana Rios, Kamehameha Maui 6-0, 6-0.

Kiyo Christopher, Kihei Charter, def. Cristal Pak, Baldwin 6-0, 6-0.

Kahealani Garcia, Lahainaluna, def. Natalie Smart, Maui Prep 6-1, 6-0.

(3) Kaitlyn Ralar, Kamehameha Maui, def. Carine Bleasdell, Kihei Charter 6-0, 6-0.

Yoana Gkatsu, King Kekaulike, def. Ziri Lapus, Lahainaluna 6-0, 6-0.

(2) Nikki Fernando, Seabury Hall, def. Alysa Razo, Baldwin 6-0, 6-1.

Boys doubles

First Round

Liam Caldwell and Malachai Semevolos-Bullock, Baldwin, def. Dane Payba and Hunter Arconado, Maui High 6-2, 6-2.

Banyan Neece and Nolan Brown, Maui Prep, def. Style Soares and Laakea Webb, Kamehameha Maui, default.

Jackson Masuda and Zion Singh, Baldwin, def. Joenell Agmata and Michael Raqueno, Lanai 6-2, 7-6 (4).

Jayden Castillo-Pagay and Mitchell Ganir, Lanai, def. Joshua Calaoagan and Adricx Lapus, Lahainaluna, no score reported.

Round of 16

(1) Devon Baldwin and Zack Fernando, Kihei Charter, def. Liam Caldwell and Malachai Semevolos-Bullock, Baldwin 6-1, 6-0.

Ryan Siarot and Preston Ito, King Kekaulike, def. Jayden Pahukula and Jaxson Pahukula, Kamehameha Maui 2-6, 7-5, 10-5.

(3) Cody Sears and Nicolas Wittenburg, Baldwin, def. Banyan Neece and Nolan Brown, Maui Prep, default.

Trenton Uchima and Thorren Rebugio, King Kekaulike, def. Kit Anipot and Sean Tiri, Maui High 6-0, 6-4.

Rielyn Domingo and Kai Frostad, King Kekaulike, def. Makana Golis and Logan English, Kamehameha Maui 6-1, 6-1.

(4) James Fujii and Shawn Abut, Lahainaluna, def. Jackson Masuda and Zion Singh, Baldwin 6-2, 6-2.

Gabriel Kaahanui and Robert Mawae, Molokai, def. Jayden Castillo-Pagay and Mitchell Ganir, Lanai 6-2, 7-5.

(2) Sterling Sandler and Zack Walker, Seabury Hall, def. Brent Lacuesta and Jerren Manarpac, Baldwin 6-2, 6-0.

Girls doubles

First Round

Emi Sakumoto and Kazzandra Anton, Baldwin, def. Caroline Stevenson and Eliana Akinaka, King Kekaulike 6-4, 6-4.

Erica Gumboc and Jenna Payba, Maui High, def. Elise Rodriguez and Tammy Abrew, St. Anthony 6-0, 6-0.

Elena Hickey and Erin Tanaka, Seabury Hall, def. Keeana Villamar and Aiesha Pradham, Maui Prep 6-0, 6-4.

Mikaellah Badilio and Allyna Teppang, Lanai, def. Naomi Rubon and Luzcilla Roflo, Maui High 6-4, 6-3.

Berylin Lau and Leeana Kanemitsu, Kamehameha Maui, def. Randy Ouye and Kapua Coon, St. Anthony 6-0, 6-0.

Challys Pascual and Deolian Domawa, Lahainaluna, def. Lannie Hisashima and Eden Newman, King Kekaulike 6-4, 6-1.

Eva Karaneva and Sherry Ann Domingo, Maui Prep, def. Cayla Nakagawa and Cassidy Hanano, Kamehameha Maui, default.

Alexa deCrinis and Michelle Tasaki, Seabury Hall, def. Irish Oamil and Naomi Cabreros, Molokai 6-0, 6-0.

Angela Bulatao and Chelsea Adovas, Lahainaluna, def. Zoe Chichioco and Mya Hollifield, St. Anthony 6-1, 6-0.

Aiza Ragonton and Kayla DeRouin, Molokai, def. Kali Spalding and Radharani Singh, King Kekaulike 6-2, 6-1.

Hailey Killett and Ana Rodriguez-Gomez, Lahainaluna, def. Kendall Taomoto and Frances Ibe, Baldwin 6-1, 6-1.

Marisa Luna and Leanne Osorno, Maui High, def. Bri Leval and Toa Siua, St. Anthony 6-1, 6-4.

Round of 16

(1) Kayleen Lau and Kaelyn Kato, Kamehameha Maui, def. Emi Sakumoto and Kazzandra Anton, Baldwin 6-0, 6-0.

Erica Gumboc and Jenna Payba, Maui High, def. Elena Hickey and Erin Tanaka, Seabury Hall 6-1, 6-0.

(4) Kailani Kennedy and Catherine Wu, Baldwin, def. Mikaellah Badilio and Allyna Teppang, Lanai 6-1, 6-0.

Berylin Lau and Leeana Kanemitsu, Kamehameha Maui, def. Challys Pascual and Deolian Domawa, Lahainaluna 6-3, 6-3.

Alexa deCrinis and Michelle Tasaki, Seabury Hall, def. Eva Karaneva and Sherry Ann Domingo, Maui Prep 6-0 6-1.

(3) Selena Feike and Kaui Kennedy, Baldwin, def. Angela Bulatao and Chelsea Adovas, Lahainaluna 6-0, 6-0.

Hailey Killett and Ana Rodriguez-Gomez, Lahainaluna, def. Aiza Ragonton and Kayla DeRouin, Molokai 6-0, 6-1.

(2) Chiemi Powell and Jessica Griffiths, Seabury Hall, def. Marisa Luna and Leanne Osorno, Maui High 6-1, 6-0.