San Rafael, CA --- On a beautiful day for tennis, Academy of Art University defeated Dominican University in both sides of a doubleheader, 9-0 and 9-0, at the Forest Meadows Tennis Courts. Originally scheduled to play just one match on Sunday, the teams played two due to previously rescheduled matches with the Knights improving to 6-7 overall and Dominican falling to 2-5. AAU has now won three matches in a row.

“We've regained our momentum these last few matches,” Head Coach Dave Allen said. “[Dominican] has quite a few really good players, but the good news is that we came up with a very clean gameplan. We won all three doubles which gave us a lot of confidence going into the singles. The team was able to recognize how important our doubles play is and we really did a great job.”

It was the second time Dominican and Academy of Art have faced one another since the Knights' tennis program began. Last season, AAU defeated the Penguins 7-2, sweeping the singles competition. These two matches had a similar result.

The first match began with three doubles victories for the Knights including a perfect 8-0 result for sophomore Maria "Belen" Tenorio and freshman Cecilia Hedin over Jessica Curlett and Brittany Lewis in the third position.  At the number one, freshman Diane Phan and junior Laone "Lala" Botshoma put away Michele Freitas and Stephanie Lemp 8-4. Senior Anna Ritchie and sophomore Paola Correa Fe teamed up for the second doubles victory, an 8-2 win over Caskey Cunningham and Anh Truong.

“Ritchie and Correa Fe led the team to victory with their doubles play because they were so strong,” Coach Allen said.

Phan got the Knights going in singles with a 6-0, 6-0 victory against Lemp at number one. Botshoma won her singles match versus Freitas 6-4, 6-1 in the second position while Correa Fe topped Truong 6-3, 6-4 at number three. Tenorio prevailed over Cunningham 6-1, 6-1 in the third slot and Ritchie also took home a 6-1, 6-1 triumph against Curlett at five. In the sixth position, Hedin had a solid performance with a 6-1, 6-3 victory against Lewis.

“Our four, five, and six players were able to play so well, it took a lot of pressure off the rest of our group,” Coach Allen said. “Our depth is really coming through for us. Our number one, two, and three have continued to be strong and this time the four, five, and six led the way for us. Our footwork and aggressive play are what won this match. I was whispering 'popcorn feet' all day.”

The Knights started the second match of the day with another strong doubles outing. The teams of Correa Fe and Ritchie as well as Tenorio and Hedin did not drop a single game in the second and third spots respectively as both earned 8-0 wins. Botshoma and Phan also got the victory in doubles, an 8-3 result, versus Freitas and Lemp at number one.

“I thought Cecilia Hedin really stepped up,” Coach Allen said. “She brought her game way up and played where she's able to play.”

Phan put away Freitas 6-4, 6-4 at number one while Botshoma responded with a resounding 6-1, 6-1 win in the second spot versus Lemp. Tenorio prevailed against Truong 6-1, 6-2 in the third slot and at number four, Correa Fe stayed strong against Cunningham with a 6-4, 6-3 result. Ritchie and Hedin both earned their second singles victories of the day at the fifth and sixth spots respectively. Ritchie topped Lewis 6-0, 6-2 while Hedin finished off Curlett without losing a game 6-0, 6-0.

“A big thank you goes out to Head Coach Greg Kennett for hosting,” Coach Allen said. “He did a terrific job. He's a new coach that comes to Dominican from St. Mary's College, and with his experience, it won't take long for the Penguins to grow a strong tennis team. I wish him well in his new program and he's already developed several top players at his school. We look forward to developing competition between Dominican and Academy of Art.”

Academy of Art women's tennis stays local this week with a matchup versus Grand Canyon University this Friday, Mar. 19 back at the San Francisco Tennis Club. This will be the final match for AAU before the Knights travel to Hawaii for the Aqua Tournament starting Mar. 23.

“We also had a beautiful day to play,” Coach Allen said. “The team had a great time and a pretty good turnout in San Rafael. It was kind of a family affair. Also my wife, Erica, mother-in-law, Chris Thomas from Phoenix, AZ, and our sons, Parker and Charlie, all made it out there today so a big shout-out to them!”

Tennis Match Results
Academy of Art University vs Dominican University (CA)
Mar 14, 2010 at San Rafael, CA
(Forest Meadows Tennis Courts)

Academy of Art University 9, Dominican University (CA) 0

Singles competition
1. Diane Phan (AAU-WT) def. Stephanie Lemp (DUC-WT) 6-0, 6-0
2. Laone Botshoma (AAU-WT) def. Michele Freitas (DUC-WT) 6-4, 6-1
3. Paola Correa Fe (AAU-WT) def. Anh Truong (DUC-WT) 6-3, 6-4
4. Maria Tenorio (AAU-WT) def. Caskey Cunningham (DUC-WT) 6-1, 6-1
5. Anna Ritchie (AAU-WT) def. Jessica Curlett (DUC-WT) 6-1, 6-1
6. Cecilia Hedin (AAU-WT) def. Brittany Lewis (DUC-WT) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Diane Phan/Laone Botshoma (AAU-WT) def. Michele Freitas/Stephanie Lemp (DUC-WT) 8-4
2. Paola Correa Fe/Anna Ritchie (AAU-WT) def. Caskey Cunningham/Anh Truong (DUC-WT) 8-2
3. Maria Tenorio/Cecilia Hedin (AAU-WT) def. Jessica Curlett/Brittany Lewis (DUC-WT) 8-0

Match Notes:
Academy of Art University 5-7
Dominican University (CA) 2-4

Tennis Match Results
Academy of Art University vs Dominican University (CA)
Mar 14, 2010 at San Rafael, CA
(Forest Meadows Tennis Courts)
Academy of Art University 9, Dominican University (CA) 0

Singles competition
1. Diane Phan (AAU-WT) def. Michele Freitas (DUC-WT) 6-1, 6-1
2. Laone Botshoma (AAU-WT) def. Stephanie Lemp (DUC-WT) 6-4, 6-4
3. Paola Correa Fe (AAU-WT) def. Caskey Cunningham (DUC-WT) 6-1, 6-2
4. Maria Tenorio (AAU-WT) def. Anh Truong (DUC-WT) 6-4, 6-3
5. Anna Ritchie (AAU-WT) def. Brittany Lewis (DUC-WT) 6-0, 6-0
6. Cecilia Hedin (AAU-WT) def. Jessica Curlett (DUC-WT) 6-0, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Laone Botshoma/Diane Phan (AAU-WT) def. Michele Freitas/Stephanie Lemp (DUC-WT) 8-3
2. Paola Correa Fe/Anna Ritchie (AAU-WT) def. Caskey Cunningham/Anh Truong (DUC-WT) 8-0
3. Cecilia Hedin/Maria Tenorio (AAU-WT) def. Brittany Lewis/Jessica Curlett (DUC-WT) 8-0

Match Notes:
Academy of Art University 6-7
Dominican University (CA) 2-5