Box Score

Glendale, AZ - In the third and final game of the Pacific West Championship Tournament, Academy of Art University (10-13) battled Grand Canyon University (12-14) on Saturday afternoon. After dropping the first game of the tournament, the Urban Knights were going up against the 'Lopes for the 5th and 6th spots in the tournament. The two teams played hard, and again it was a close match for the Urban Knights. The match came down to the doubles competitions to determine a winner, and the Knights edged out their competition by a score of 5-4 to secure the 5th place finish.

The Urban Knights lost the first singles match, but then won three in a row to take the lead. Laone "Lala" Botshoma defeated her 'Lopes opponent with scores of 7-5, 6-1. Paola Correa Fe also came through for her team as she won her singles match 6-2, 6-4. Maria "Belen" Tenorio won the last singles for AAU as she finished with scores of 6-0, 3-6, 6-4. The Knights then dropped the next two singles matches to tie the game heading into doubles play.

The AAU power combination of Botshoma and Diane Phan led the team to regain the lead. The pair were first in the doubles, and came out victorious with a score of 8-5. Anna Ritchie and Correa Fe teamed up to defeat their 'Lopes competitors and won with a score of 8-4. That second doubles victory gave the Urban Knights the overall win in the game. Even though they lost the third and final doubles match, they finished with a final score of 5-4.

Every set and match were closely played in the game, but the Urban Knights gave everything they had and came out on top. They started the tournament as the number seven seed, and finished two places higher, in fifth. The Academy of Art University will next play in the OJAI Valley tournament. The tournament takes place from April 22nd- April 24th in Ojai, CA. Game times are to be announced.



Academy of Art 5, Grand Canyon 4
Apr 17, 2010 at Glendale, AZ (Paseo Racquet Club)

Singles competition

1. Cecilia Vergnet (GCU-WT) def. Diane Phan (AAU-WT) 6-1, 6-4

2. Laone Botshoma (AAU-WT) def. Stephanie Haldeman (GCU-WT) 7-5, 6-1

3. Paola Correa Fe (AAU-WT) def. Stefanie Griffin (GCU-WT) 6-2, 6-4

4. Maria Tenorio (AAU-WT) def. Kaila Knopf (GCU-WT) 6-0, 3-6, 6-4

5. Mandy Prudhomme (GCU-WT) def. Anna Ritchie (AAU-WT) 6-0, 6-4

6. Ali Brackey (GCU-WT) def. Cecilia Hedin (AAU-WT) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles competition

1. Laone Botshoma/Diane Phan (AAU-WT) def. Stephanie Haldeman/Cecilia Vergnet (GCU-WT) 8-5

2. Paola Correa Fe/Anna Ritchie (AAU-WT) def. Kaila Knopf/Stefanie Griffin (GCU-WT) 8-4

3. Ali Brackey/Mandy Prudhomme (GCU-WT) def. Maria Tenorio/Cecilia Hedin (AAU-WT) 8-6